The Greater Alliance Foundation is proud to celebrate the
five-year anniversary of Give Alliance 365, a vital charitable initiative operating
under the foundation’s umbrella that has spent the last half-decade driving
localized impact and fostering a spirit of community-led philanthropy. On
Monday, June 1st, The Greater Alliance Foundation held a dinner event at
Aeonian Brewery “Cheers to Five Years,” to celebrate and hear from several
non-profits that received funding from Give Alliance 365. Since its inception,
Give Alliance 365 raised over $114,000 – granting $74,000 to local nonprofits
and endowing $78,000.
At the celebratory event, donors and their guests got to hear directly from
community leaders and nonprofit partners who received funding from
Alliance Give 365. Through the stories shared by the speakers, attendees
could see firsthand how local philanthropy is being transformed into
meaningful community impact in Alliance. Featured guest speakers who
shared their stories were Emily Trevino from the Alliance Pregnancy Center,
Rex Morey from Challenge Ministries, and David Daniels from Michael’s
World.
Emily Trevino spoke on how through the grant they received from Give
Alliance 365, the Alliance Pregnancy Center was able to provide car seats to
families in need. The Alliance Pregnancy Center provides parenting courses
that participants can take and upon completion, receive a car seat for their
child, free of charge. The next speaker, Rex Morey from Challenge Ministries,
detailed how the funding they received allowed them to expand their 1 on 1
mentorship program and increased chances of their participants landing
jobs. David Daniels from Michael’s World outlined how the funding they
received allowed them to expand and renovate their store, allowing them to
serve even more children in Alliance. Michael’s World provides clothing to
Alliance children free of charge.
When donors give to Give Alliance 365, they are not only aiding their
community today, but also in the future. Heidi McClung, Executive Director of
GAF said, “What makes this initiative especially impactful is its dual purpose:
each year, the dollars raised are divided between a permanent endowment
fund that will support Alliance for generations to come and a spendable fund
that addresses immediate community needs. Through that spendable fund,
local nonprofits can apply for micro-grants of up to $10,000 to support
projects, capital improvements, equipment purchases, or innovative
programming.” The Giving Circle of donors also get to decide how their
dollars are spent – voting on which nonprofits receive the grants – something
that makes Give Alliance 365 even more unique. These grants help
organizations respond to opportunities and challenges that directly affect the
quality of life in Alliance, while the 365 Endowment Fund will continue to
grow and ensure that Give Alliance 365 lasts for generations to come.
After 5 years, Give Alliance 365 has 116 members, and is excited about their
future growth. At the event, current donors were in attendance as well as
their invited guests. “By encouraging our donors to bring a friend who cares
about Alliance, we shared not only a meal, but a vision of growth for this
community,” Chas Mitchell, GAF Trustee said. “Every gift, every partnership,
and every new supporter helps the Greater Alliance Foundation continue its
mission of investing in the people, organizations, and ideas that make our
community stronger today while building a lasting legacy for tomorrow.”
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Peters Charitable Fund and the
Burnell Brotsman Charitable Fund, all new memberships and donations
made before the June 30th deadline will be fully matched, doubling the
power of your contribution to the community. As such, there has never been
a better time to get involved. For just a dollar a day, you can make a
difference in the community. To become a member or make a matching
donation online, please visit https://greateralliancefoundation.org/give-alliance-365/