Northeast Indiana Disability Service Providers Raise $495,043 on Giving Tuesday
Fort Wayne, IN ─ AWS Foundation matched $130,000 for a total of $495,043 raised between 12 regional disability service providers in their GivingTuesday campaigns. Leveraging AWS Foundation’s match potential to inspire philanthropy in their communities, these non-profit organizations exceeded the totals raised in 2020 by more than $165,000. The participating disability providers included: Arc of LaGrange, Arc of Noble County, Arc of Wabash County, Bi-County Services (Bluffton), Camp Red Cedar (Fort Wayne), Cardinal Services (Wabash), Carey Services (Marion), Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana (Angola, Columbia City, Fort Wayne), LIFE Adult Day Academy (Fort Wayne), Pathfinder Services (Huntington), The League (Fort Wayne), and Turnstone (Fort Wayne).
“GivingTuesday highlights the power of our collective efforts,” says Patti Hays, AWS Foundation CEO. “As the pandemic continues to disrupt fundraising events and needs throughout the disability community grow, it is important for all of us to recognize and participate in giving year-round. Channeling the generosity, kindness, and efforts of people around Northeast Indiana beyond GivingTuesday could break down a number of barriers that those with disabilities face every day and spark innovative solutions to build a fully inclusive community.” Hays goes on to say that each of the agencies receiving matching funds has continued to provide services, some 24/7, during the pandemic.
AWS Foundation matched up to $10,000 dollar-for-dollar donations made to eleven organizations that focus specifically on improving the quality of life for those with disabilities in our region. If all organizations did not meet the $10,000, any organization raising more was eligible for a 50% match on those excess dollars until the foundation spent the total $130,000. Nine organizations exceeded their $10,000 goal and received extra matching dollars.
“Our fifth year of providing an annual GivingTuesday match has been our most impactful yet,” says Patti Hays, AWS Foundation CEO. “Thanks to the donors who acknowledge and support these vital services supporting inclusion and quality of life for those with disabilities. The generosity of the community matched with the hard work and creativity of each agency’s staff to bring in more donations and to reach new donors inspires us each year.”
GivingTuesday is a global campaign positioned the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, designed to encourage giving back. This year, in a single day, people in the United States gave $2.7 billion with the generosity movement reporting record-breaking giving by millions of people worldwide. GivingTuesday not only encourages monetary donations but the idea that giving your time or goods is also valuable to your community.
About AWS Foundation
Founded in 2007, AWS Foundation supports a wide range of organizations and service agencies in northeast Indiana, working to develop a community in which people with enduring intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities are engaged fully and meaningfully in all aspects of community life. For more information, visit awsfoundation.org.