Nine local agencies to participate in Good Giving Challenge
Published 5:02 pm Monday, November 27, 2017
Nine Boyle County-based agencies will be participating in the yearly Good Giving Challenge, kicking off at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The online fundraising effort, now in its seventh year, is organized by the Blue Grass Community Foundation for nonprofit agencies around the state. The challenge will end at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31.
For many agencies, said Julie McAlister, director of Camp Horsin’ Around, the Good Giving Challenge has come to be “an essential” part of their yearly budgets.
“Our local charities have come to rely on the generosity of donors with the Good Giving Challenge,” she said.
The nine agencies are:
Arts Commission of Danville/Boyle County
bggives.org/artscommissionofdanvilleboylecounty
Learn more: dbc-arts.org
The Arts Commission of Danville/Boyle County has a goal of $3,000, said Mimi Becker, executive director.
The money raised will fund scholarships for children to participate in community arts groups, such as the Heritage Area Strings Program, the Danville Children’s Choir and West T. Hill Community Theater summer camps; programs such as a recent concert by the Louisville Leopards Percussionists or a performance of a play by Liz Orndorff in local schools; arts activities for special needs citizens; programs to support local artists developing their business opportunities; and promote public art and other programs.
Boyle County Education Foundation Inc.
Learn more: sites.google.com/boyle.kyschools.us/bceducationfund
The Boyle County Education Foundation has a goal of $10,000, which will be used to support arts programs in the Boyle County Schools, said Susan Taylor, member of the foundation board. Typically, she explained, the costs of such projects are covered by grant opportunities or other ways. The money will go to support the teachers’ needs.
The foundation has provided previous funding for programs and materials to help with arts and humanities for all students in the district, giving them access to art supplies, musical instruments, a greenhouse, drama opportunities and more.
Camp Horsin’ Around
Learn more: camphorsinaround.org
Camp Horsin’ Around has a goal of $25,000, to help build a low ropes challenge course for campers, said McAlister.
“It’s ambitious, but we need to continue building activities and other ways to meet our campers needs,” she said. “It’s really appreciated and really necessary.”
Donations help run the camp, she said. Camp Horsin’ Around supports organized groups to provide an outdoor camp adventure for children whose health is compromised or who have special needs; the camp also hosts Anything Is Possible Camp for children who don’t belong to another organized group.
CASA of the Bluegrass
Learn more: casaofthebluegrass.org
CASA of the Bluegrass (Court Appointed Special Advocates) has a goal of $15,000 for the 2017 Good Giving Challenge. It’s money the organization plans to use to recruit and train additional volunteers, said Laura Guerrant, director.
CASA volunteers serve as a voice in court for the needs of children who are victims of abuse and neglect. CASA of the Bluegrass trains and manages community members who advocate for children to keep them from languishing in the child welfare system, with a goal of permanency for each child. Guerrant said they want to train enough volunteers to serve 35 additional children.
“That’s 35 children getting a voice in court, 35 children not getting lost in foster care, 35 children receiving the basic human right of safety and permanency,” she said.
Community Arts Center
bggives.org/communityartscenter
Learn more: communityartscenter.net
The Community Arts Center has a goal of $15,000 for “arts access” programs, said Kate Snyder, director of marketing and development at the center. Those programs include field trips and scholarships to participate in arts opportunities at the center.
“We want to be sure that everyone has access to life-changing benefits of the arts. More art for more people — that’s always the goals,” Snyder said.
Danville-Boyle County Senior Citizens Center
bggives.org/danvilleboyleseniorcitizens
Learn more: afunplaceforseniors.org
This is the first year for the Danville-Boyle County Senior Citizens Center to participate in the Good Giving Challenge, said Ben Guerrant, director, who said he’d like to see them bring in over $5,000, but doesn’t have a specific goal set.
“Any donations received will help offset costs of meals and transportation provided to seniors and will allow us to continue to expand services with no increase in expenses,” he said.
The center becomes like family for so many of their seniors, Guerrant said, and helps them stay active and healthy, combat loneliness and offers an opportunity to engage with others outside of the home.
“We provide information and a range of services, activities and volunteer opportunities, which promote growth, health, friendship and independence for senior citizens and adults with special needs in Boyle County,” Guerrant said.
Family Services Association of Boyle County
bggives.org/familyservicesassociationofboylecounty
The Family Services Association of Boyle County, which works to provide emergency financial assistance for residents of Boyle County, has a goal of $6,000, said Crystal McPherson, executive director.
“Most of our larger funding sources have decreased across the board,” she said.
McPherson said the agency was hoping to make up for funding, which it had formerly gotten through other sources such as the City of Danville and the Heart of Kentucky United way. Many other agencies and individuals have been forced to cut back on their donations in recent years, which has left the Family Services Association in need.
She said seniors who are served by the Family Services Association were covered by existing funding, but they were always scrambling for funds to help younger individuals.
KentuckyADAPT
Learn more: kyadapt.org
KentuckyADAPT (Assisting Deaf Adults to Participate Totally) has a goal of $10,000, with which it plans to continue offering group educational learning experiences for clients, said Dahlia Haas, board member. Those include educational experiences of independent living, safety and social skills trainings.
The agency works to provide deaf and hard of hearing adults who have additional disabilities with the knowledge and skills they need to live safely and as independently as possible, increase their community integration and belonging and give back to their community through volunteer work experiences, she said.
“KentuckyADAPT is the only organization in the state which exists to serve these amazing but very underserved men and women. We do not currently receive federal or state funds because this gives us the freedom to serve only this population,” Haas said. “Our clients are filled with talent and promise — all they need is assistance in developing and using their potential and skills to become more self-sufficient and to help others.”
Wilderness Trace Child Development Center
Learn more: wtcdc.orgLearn more: wtcdc.org
The Wilderness Trace Child Development Center, which serves children ages 2 to 5, has a goal of $50,000 or more, said Libby Suttles, director.
“Each child responds uniquely to therapy and we always need new equipment, which is so expensive,” she said.
The children served at Wilderness Trace Child Development Center have varying medical, physical and emotional needs. The center engages children of diverse abilities side-by-side.
“WTCDC is desperate to add classrooms onto our existing building. We have not been able to accommodate growing numbers of children in need of smaller, inclusive class sizes,” she said.
Suttles said the opioid crisis will continue to impact new babies, causing a variety of health concerns and an influx of students with special needs. Wilderness Trace needs to expand its classroom and therapy space, the cafeteria and the playground; and it needs a smart board, new flooring in the building and a patched driveway.
“Every donation is significant,” Suttles said.
SO YOU KNOW
The Good Giving Challenge kicks off at 9 a.m. Tuesday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express cards are accepted in the online portal, along with eChecks. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, visit bggives.org.
