Giving Back 365 Donors Continue Impacting Community
Reposted with permission from the Watertown Public Opinion
Giving Back 365 donors have been impacting our community since the Watertown Area Community Foundation program began in 2012. The Giving Back 365 program has resulted in a total of more than $65,000 in grants to worthwhile services and organizations in our area.
Giving Back 365 members give $1 a day to make our community better. Half of the contribution is used for grants in the current year and half is placed in an endowed fund. The principal of the endowment fund is never spent so it can grow over time to generate an increasing stream of funding devoted to fulfilling the Giving Back 365 mission. The impact of Giving Back 365 gifts is maximized because donors’ dollars are pooled together.
At the end of each year, members are given grant applications and information from potential grantees. The members vote and the majority rules. For 2017, that meant more than $16,420 in grants to the following:
- $1,739 to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator to have onsite at the Beacon Center.
- $1,400 to support a digital literacy program at the Boys & Girls Club which focuses on new skills as well as online safety.
- $1,363 to Divine Providence of South Dakota to help fund start-up costs for its Pulpit Supply program which provides volunteer ecumenical lay preachers for area pastors and churches.
- $1,390 to Habitat for Humanity Greater Watertown Region for laptop, printer, wireless phone and software.
- $1,920 to Joy Ranch for materials to construct a wheelchair accessible lift for the horse riding area.
- $1,363 to Lake Area Zoological Society to support the Wildlife Warriors boys’ Roots & Shoots program at Bramble Park Zoo. This is the fifth consecutive year for GB365 support of this program!
- $1,000 to PACH for a cart for the packing area and totes for outgoing snacks.
- $1,244 to REACH (Respond-Educate-Advocate-Counsel-Heal) to purchase a Bluetooth speaker which will enable team to monitor forensic interviews. Part of the grant will be used to also purchase educational books to give to families that are seen at the child advocacy center.
- $2,000 to the Salvation Army to support a music program for youth.
- $2,000 to Watertown Area Transit to update telephone system.
- $1,000 to Watertown Artwalk to cover printing costs in 2018 which includes 4,000 brochures distributed to residents and visitors.
These grants will touch hundreds of lives. Thank you 2017 Giving Back 365 donors for making all of this possible.
A dollar a day does make a difference. The 2018 Giving Back 365 effort is just beginning. Join anytime during the year by giving $365. For more information on Giving Back 365, please contact us at 605-882-3731, 211 E. Kemp, or email: foundation@iw.net.