December 9, 2021
In Times of Change
Category: BELONGING AND CULTURE: Building Support & Capacity, Giving Challenge,
The 2020 Giving Challenge came at a crucial time for Hope 4 Communities. In a time of change amidst the unknown, the Giving Challenge gave us and our partner churches the capacity to continuing serving the children of Sarasota and Manatee Counties.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused churches to close thier doors and tithing drastically decreased. Our partner churches historically provide the funds to sponsor a large percentage of the children who attend our events each year. We were forced to get creative.
We pivoted our strategy plan and asked our churches to become Peer to Peer partners fundraising for these kids in a new and unique way. For every dollar fundraised to support a child, half of the match would support a child, the other half would help support our Day4Hope operational funds. This strategy allowed our organization and partner churches to support the same amount of children, with less. It also helped us to raise the funds we originally had set as a goal for ourselves as an organization.
The Giving Challenge helped us increase the children we provided services for, which was necessary in a year where need increased. 3,027 children were served during our 2020 Dayhope initiative.
We are extremly grateful for the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and The Patterson Foundation for their generosity and support.
For more information about Hope 4 Communities, visit https://www.hope4c.us/