The Ultimate Workout Fundraiser 2013 and... Why Donate?

You may be used to hearing requests for donations from community-service organizations. In our brochure, we assure you that any donation is greatly appreciated and helps tremendously. Your contribution, whether monetary or intellectual (we always have an open ear for ideas!!!), ALWAYS makes a difference, no matter how big or small. But you've heard this all before. There are so many organizations that say the same thing, and if you're tight on money, it's sometimes hard to convince yourself that donating is a good idea. Also, if you're like me, you've probably wondered at least once how these amazing organizations like the Family First Center gets along financially. So in this post, I thought it'd be a good idea to do two things: 1) give you a good reason to think about making a donation, and 2) explain the grant process, which is the money behind the madness. Let's start with the second point... I'll get back to the first :)

The Family First Center of Lake County and the staff that works so hard to keep it going are supported by grants. More often than not, grants come from the government; otherwise, they come from other big institutions with money to spare and an interest in helping the community (such as a college or university). To get a grant, one or more people come together to plan every detail of the association that they'd like to start up or continue, like FFC. They plan everything from how much the staff will be paid, to the budget they will need to fund community events, as well as the approximate dates of when they will happen. Then the group has to write out all of this detail in a very specific, structured way so that the associations giving the grants can more easily compare their application to others. If the government/association likes the application enough, they will give that group a certain amount of money in a grant to support their cause. This is a very difficult process, and sometimes the bright minds in places like FFC have great ideas to help the community that there is little to no room in the budget for. This is why we hold fundraisers!

This all leads up to our most recent development in Fundraiser-Land...

The FFC presents...
      The ULTIMATE WORKOUT Fundraiser!!!

For those of you that like your information in bulletin points...:

What: Ultimate Workout Fundraiser 2013, $5 donation

When: Saturday, Nov. 16th - ALL DAY (beginning at 8 a.m.)

Where: Family First Center, 202 S. Genessee St., Waukegan, IL 60085

Who: Call 847-244-4374 to talk to one of our friendly staff for more info :)

Why: Because who doesn't love to break a sweat and/or support their community?!

For this all-day event, you can pay $5 to work out at our friendly gym and fitness rooms, or if that couch just feels too good under your bum / if you live too far to be physically present, but you still want to help, you can donate $5 to help the cause!!!

Now... why donate? Like I said, so many organizations seem to need donations - why give to FFC? Well, first of all, FFC gives its all for the Lake County area!!! The main staff, which consists of three people, manage more than 66,000 visits/clients throughout an average year. If you divide that evenly, that 22,000 visits/clients per year for each person, which averages to a little more than 60 people per day!!! Some of that 66,000 does include mass community service events, such as Toys for Tots. Even so, many of those helped during mass community service events also come into the FFC offices for a visit or two. Also, the staff is personally invested in making every single one of those cases a success. Each of those 66,000 that our staff see in our offices are handled with care. Our staff get to know their clients and work with them to create solutions. I have seen this staff go to amazing lengths to help clients find food, housing, jobs, clothing, education, child care - you name it! They fight for and with this community to better the lives of others. And best of all, they do it with a huge smile!!! (seriously... photo evidence below!)

If you live in Lake County, I firmly believe you have every reason to put any donation, small or large, into the very capable and determined hands of our staff - they will see to it that your money goes towards making our County a better place for all of us! If you do not live in Lake County, we certainly still welcome your donations. We hope that the successes we create through FFC is contagious, that the ideas for innovation and persistence spread so that others can let their hearts catch fire with the optimistic determination seen at the FFC!!! If we spark a flame within you, please let us know... Consider us your brothers and sisters of the world!!!

Coming soon: seasonal giving and a story of amazing success.... :)