Local nonprofits participating in online giving campaign

Published 8:17 pm Saturday, November 26, 2016

Thirteen Clark County nonprofits are up for the challenge of raising funds via an online giving campaign beginning this week.

The sixth GoodGiving Challenge, a partnership between Blue Grass Community Foundation and Smiley Pete Publishing, begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday and runs through 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31.

The challenge is an online giving campaign designed to engage the entire community while making charitable giving easy and fun.

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This year, more than 120 charities in central and eastern Kentucky will take part in the challenge, which raised $1.3 million for nonprofits last year.

Last year, Clark County Community Foundation provided more than $113,000 in match dollars; an additional $155,000 was raised by participating nonprofits for a total of $269,000.

Since its inception in 2011, The GoodGiving Challenge has raised more than $5.5 million for Bluegrass nonprofits, making it among the most successful giving events in Kentucky.

 “We are dedicated to the idea that one person can make a powerful impact,” Lisa Adkins, president and chief executive officer of Blue Grass Community Foundation, said. “But we also know we have the biggest impact when we work together. At Blue Grass Community Foundation, we believe in investing together for our community and the GoodGiving Challenge is the perfect opportunity for charitable giving to be fun, accessible and rewarding for the whole community.”

The Clark County Community Foundation will again provide a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $10,000 for each of the 13 Clark County nonprofit participants.

GoodGiving Challenge Clark County Participant Profiles

Bluegrass Heritage Museum

Located in downtown Winchester, the Bluegrass Heritage Museum offers three floors in a Victorian-era building filled with continually evolving galleries focused on agriculture, Civil War, military history, instrument-maker Homer Ledford and more. Donations would contribute to the museum’s work of artifact preservation, building maintenance and upkeep. The museum preserves artifacts relevant to central Kentucky history which are donated, while providing educational programming of the general public and area schools. For more information about the museum, call 745-1358.

Clark County Community Services

Clark County Community Services has been the go-to place for food, housing, clothing and utilities assistance for families in Clark County since 1975. CCCS responds to the basic needs of low-income individuals and families in Clark County and provides a central location where they can receive assistance in times of crisis. The organization works to empower its clients towards self-sufficiency. For more information about CCCS, call 744-5034.

Clark County Homeless Coalition

Clark County Homeless Coalition serves homeless men, women and families by providing transitional housing, comprehensive case management, psycho-educational classes, life skills training, financial literacy, resume and employment search assistance, referrals, advocacy and more. For more information about CCHC, call 744-8733.

Holly Rood

Holly Rood is one of the oldest historic homes in Clark County. Constructed 1812-1814, this was the home of Gov. James Clark and his family. Holly Rood was slated for demolition in 1974, but was saved at the last minute by a group of citizens who formed The Friends of Holly Rood. The Clark County-Winchester Heritage Commission now cares for Holly Rood. The all-volunteer commission does everything from cleaning to publishing, while researching the diverse populations who lived in and around Holly Rood, preserving and sharing this information with the community. For more information about Holly Rood, call 745-6664.

Leeds Center for the Arts

Leeds Center for the Arts has been used by the community in Clark County for more than 90 years. What started as merely a movie theater, was converted to a community arts venue in the 1980s. In recent years is has seen dramatic resurgence of interest and attendance in arts events.

For nearly a century, Leeds has been a space for the community to grow and create together in downtown Winchester. The board hopes to preserve not only the structure, but more importantly the programs within. For more information about Leeds, visit leedscenter.org.

Life for Pets

Life for Pets is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to promoting the humane treatment of homeless or unwanted animals through community outreach, education and foster and adoption programs. The mission is to decrease the need for euthanization through increased awareness, spay and neutering and adoptions.

Life for Pets is the only organization that offers low cost spay/neuter in Clark and Bath counties, along with a food pantry for animals of low-income families so they can keep their beloved pets. For more information about Life for Pets, email lifeforpets@gmail.com.

New Beginnings

New Beginnings’ mission is to value unborn human life, be concerned with the needs of those facing unplanned pregnancies and support the youth in Clark and surrounding counties. These needs are met through free pregnancy tests, prenatal education, parenting classes, counseling, support groups, abstinence education in middle schools, Bible study and a dads program.

Partners in Education

Partners in Education’s mission is to enhance the quality of instructional services provided to students through the use of school volunteers. PIE facilitates partnerships between schools and local businesses, churches and civic organizations as well as industries. Once matched, these organizations provide schools with employees/volunteers who serve as mentor-tutors and finances for educational programs. For more information about PIE, call 556-2549.

Rosemary C. Brooks Place

Rose Mary C. Brooks Place is an independent and assisted living facility. Residents enjoy home-cooked meals prepared fresh for them, non-stop activities and a variety of five-star amenities. The loving and dedicated staff is always ready to lend a helping hand with a friendly smile. Brooks Place provides the community with fun retirement options, including both independent and assisted living — offering studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with many floor plans as well as independent cottages. For more information about Brooks Place, call 745-4904.

Saint Agatha Academy

Founded in 1919 by the Sisters of Divine Providence, St. Agatha Academy is the oldest private school in Winchester. Over the years, St. Agatha Academy has been a boarding school, grade school and high school. The school currently serves students from preschool and kindergarten Montessori through eighth grade.

STRIDE

STRIDE is a program focused on improving the quality of life for individuals who have a learning or developmental disability and are at least 16 years of age. STRIDE offers daily programming from cooking classes, dances, Special Olympic activities, daily living skills classes. For more information about STRIDE, call 744-0370.

Winchester Youth

Soccer League

Winchester Youth Soccer League is a youth sports program that offers recreational soccer opportunities for kids from age 3 to 14, providing a wholesome and healthy atmosphere for children to learn and enjoy the game of soccer. More than 500 children use the soccer complex through the league. For more information about the Winchester Youth Soccer League, call 744-8383.

YMCA of Winchester

The Winchester YMCA is a full-service facility with a commitment to nurturing the potential of youth, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. The programs and services are designed to build healthy, confident and connected individuals and families within the community.