Promise Porter County helping local youth dream of college through global day of giving
(Valparaiso, Indiana) Promise Porter County, a program that helps youth in Porter County dream about their future careers and save for education beyond high school, will participate in Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity. Held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this year’s Giving Tuesday is November 28, and kicks off the holiday giving season.
Promise Porter County has a unique opportunity to double the giving power of local supporters on Giving Tuesday. Through the 1:1 Fund, Promise Porter County will receive a dollar-for-dollar match on every donation up to $500 per individual donor. Donations will be used to help local youth open CollegeChoice 529 accounts with an initial $25 deposit and to encourage families to contribute to the accounts by providing matching funds for their own deposits.
“The goal of this new program is to not only encourage, but make it easy for, every family in Porter County with a first grade student to sign up for a CollegeChoice 529 savings account,” said Bill Higbie, President and CEO of the Porter County Community Foundation. In addition to matches for their savings, youth also experience a visit to a college campus and classroom activities that help them dream about possible careers. Promise Porter County is a partnership between The Valparaiso Family YMCA, The Porter County Community Foundation, all seven county school corporations, and multiple generous donors including Urschel Laboratories, Stewart and Kathryn McMillan, 1st Source Bank, Thorgren Tool and Molding, Valparaiso Mayor’s Ball, Gift of Grain and Gerri Pigott.
Promise Porter County has set a goal of raising $10,000 in 24 hours on November 28. Individuals, groups or organizations interested in donating as part of Giving Tuesday can visit www.pccf.gives/nonprofits/ppcgivingtuesday.html to make an online donation. Online donations can be made until 7 PM to qualify for the match. You can drop off a check at the Porter County Community Foundation, 1401 Calumet Avenue, Valparaiso, IN 46383. In-person donations need to be received by 5 PM on November 28, to qualify for the 1:1 Fund match.
To learn more about Promise Porter County, visit www.promiseportercounty.org or call Julie Giorgi at 219-462-4185, ext. 267.
For more information about the Giving Tuesday movement, visit the Giving Tuesday website www.givingtuesday.org or follow the #GivingTuesday hashtag on social media.
About the 1:1 Fund
The 1:1 Fund supports the college dreams of children by ensuring that those dreams are matched with savings in the bank. We make it easy for donors, large and small, to help kids save for college by matching their contributions in special children’s savings accounts. These accounts help low-income families save for college while giving them the confidence that post-secondary education is a real and attainable goal.