Today is the 5th Annual North Texas Giving Day!
For most of today (7 AM – midnight) North Texas Giving Day event provides more than 1,000 local non-profits the opportunity to have donations made on their behalf amplified by more than $1.5 million in matching funds and bonus prizes. Today is the day to give! All gifts are tax-deductible donation and confirmations for the deduction will be provided to all who give. During the 2012 event, donors made more than 37,000 gifts benefiting 900 profits and totaling more than $14.4 million.
Some important reasons to give today:
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- A portion of all gifts of $25 or more will be matched by local foundations;
- All Tarrant County based non-profits who have 32 or more $25+ gifts are eligible for a random $10,000 prize;
- The non-profit who receives the 1,929th gift will be awarded a $10,000 prize;
- The non-profit who receives the 2,013th gift will be awarded a $10,000 prize.
- 25th, 250th, 2,500th AND 25,000th DONATION will be awarded a $2,500 prize.
- Seventeen $1,000 prizes awarded hourly. Winners will be drawn randomly from the pool of nonprofits that received donations during that hour.
- Random prize drawn for eligible women’s organizations valued at $3,000.
Overwhelmed by the list of participating non-profits? Let FWMB team tell you a little about a few near and dear to our hearts!
1. The First Tee of Fort Worth – First Tee uses the game of golf to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and programs that focus on their nine core values. First Tee offers affordable golf classes beginning at age 5 thru teens. I started volunteering with them 4 years ago through the Junior League as an assistant coach in the 5 year olds class (aka the person who makes sure no one gets whacked by a club) and fell in love with their program and the people who run the organization. They are truly dedicated to these kids and it is amazing to watch the children grow, not only in the game of golf but in life skills of confidence, patience and character. Lessons are open enrollment (not limited by income status) and they are now offering at multiple locations. FIRST TEE DONATION LINK.
2. Lena Pope Home – More than just having the beautiful chapel on the hill by Central Market, Lena Pope Home has been helping children and families for decades here in our community. The mission of Lena Pope Home is to help create hope, happiness, and success for children and families. When it started in 1930, Lena Pope Home was a home for orphans and children in need in the Fort Worth area. It has now evolved to meet the changing needs of our community. Their focus is on empowering families to stay together. They do this by focusing in two major program areas: Counseling (Family Matters Counseling) and Education (Chapel Hill Academy) . LENA POPE HOME DONATION LINK.
3. Gladney Center for Adoption – For more than 125 years Gladney has been a pioneer and leading voice for improving the lives of children, adoptive families and birth parents. With an unwavering commitment through good economic times and bad, they have focused on their mission and made a difference in the lives of birth parents, families and children here and around the world. Many know of Gladney in the community for their local infant adoption program, but their services go far beyond that. Gladney also facilitates international adoptions, and their ‘New Beginnings’ program works with the state to place children already in the foster system. Did you know that Gladney has a dormitory that can house up to 30 expectant moms? It is consistently half full of women making one of the largest decisions in life. They assist these women in moving forward, including aid with education and career choices. All of this is funded through donations. GLADNEY DONATION LINK.
4. Camp Fire First Texas – For nearly 100 years, Camp Fire has served thousands of families in North Texas and with your continued support, they will do the same for many years to come. Camp Fire provides youth the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice and discover who they are. But their reach goes beyond children to also helps families connect. In October they will be hosting their annual Fall Camping on Fall Creek for families to come enjoy their awesome facilities at Camp El Tesoro. What a fun tradition to start with your family! CAMP FIRE DONATION LINK.
5. The WARM Place – Families in our community turn to The WARM Place to find the emotional support and help that they need after a death. They provide grief support services at no charge for children ages 3½–18 and their families, as well as young adults ages 19–25 who have experienced the death of a mother, father, sister, brother, or other loved one. We all hope our families and especially our children will never have to deal with such grief, but when it does happen, it is invaluable to know there is an organization there for support. Let’s be honest – counseling is not cheap and trying to find someone who handles exactly the issues you are dealing with is hard. The WARM Place provides such a specific purpose to our hurting children. THE WARM PLACE DONATION LINK.
6. YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth – There is no doubt that everyone has heard of the YMCA (if I just put the song in your head, I do NOT apologize), but many forget that the YMCA is a non-profit organization that relies heavily on their support of their community to keep their great programs alive. At the Y, strengthening community is their cause. Every day they work side-by-side with us, to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow & thrive. The Fort Worth YMCA consists of 13 branches, including our resident camp location, Camp Carter. The Fort Worth YMCA serves Hood and Tarrant County and outlying areas. YMCA DONATION LINK.
7. H.O.P.E. Farm Inc – Approximately 140,000 children in Tarrant County do not live with their father. H.O.P.E. Farm mentors boys from single-parent homes who lack a positive male influence in their lives. The youth enter the program between the ages of 5 and 7 and the program is designed to nurture them through high school. Currently, they have over 50 boys enrolled on two campuses. One volunteer told us, “I was drawn to it initially by the vision that was shared with me by the two police officers who started it. They shared that in order to make a difference in the lives of at-risk inner city youth (males) they need to reach them young. I love that it is a faith-based approach and the program was structured in such a way to give the kids the tools necessary to succeed both socially and academically.” H.O.P.E. FARM INC DONATION LINK.
8. Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth – When asked who has been affected by breast cancer either personally or through family and friends, it is without doubt that I say almost all of us would raise our hands. Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1.9 billion since inception in 1982. 75 percent of Komen Tarrant County’s net proceeds stay in Tarrant County to fund programs focusing on screening, education and treatment. The other 25 percent of the proceeds go to support the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program. SUSAN G. KOMEN GREATER FORT WORTH DONATION LINK.
9. Fort Worth Zoo – The zoo spends over $1 million dollars to feed the animals, and with two new BIG babies joining us this summer, you can imagine that grocery budget is going up! We are so lucky to have this state-of-the-art organization in our hometown. Beyond providing an attraction for visitors and locals, the Fort Worth Zoo provides great educational programs to our children, they promote and participate in wildlife conservation both here and around the world, and they also provide facilities for events and promotion of our beautiful city. FORT WORTH ZOO DONATION LINK.
10. March of Dimes Texas Chapter – Every year in the United States, more than half a million babies are born too soon, almost 54,000 of them right here in Texas. With your help, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies and support families if something does go wrong. Most of us know a baby that came a bit too early and what stress and heartache this can be – to be able to know that part of that burden is taken care of can enable parents to focus on their family and child. MARCH OF DIMES DONATION LINK.
All of these organizations have needs beyond financial. Fort Worth Moms Blog encourages you to find a cause you are passionate about and find ways to give back!
Who are you supporting today? Leave a comment and tell us about more great non-profits in the Fort Worth area!
**FWMB was not compensated for this post.
