Combined Appeal Nears End Fundraising Campaign
Combined Appeal Nears End Fundraising Campaign
With the New Year just weeks away, the organizers of the Grant County Combined Appeal (GCCA) fundraising campaign are appealing to area residents to help reach the goal of $207,000.
“We are getting down to the end of the campaign and at this time, GCCA is at 84 percent of our goal,” commented Craig Wellnitz.
The GCCA receives funds through three avenues. One is PaceSetter Campaign, through which the 11 PaceSetters have raised $126,114.71 through their internal campaigns.
Those companies are Berens Market, Big Stone Therapies, City of Milbank, Dakota Granite, First Bank and Trust, First Interstate Bank, Milbank Medical Center/Hospital, Milbank School District, POET, Otter Tail Power, Do-It-Best and Valley Queen. Each of these have their own internal campaigns during October and have various fundraisers and/or employees request payroll deductions.
The second revenue stream comes from the local small businesses in Grant County and the outside businesses that provide services in Grant County. The local small businesses have contributed $29,402.34.
The third revenue source the individuals who live in or near Grant County and support GCCA. The individual supporters have raised $18,291.95 to date.
“As you can see, we have received support from a number of individuals, small businesses and the PaceSetter businesses,” Wellnitz said. He noted are that the campaign is currently $33, 191 short of the goal.
“On behalf of the 20 nonprofit agencies that have applied for funding support this year, would you please consider giving to GCCA to help provide support for these nonprofit agencies deferring cost to these individuals and families?” Wellnitz said. All funds raised stay in Grant County to assist individuals and families locally.
Wellnitz asks residents to consider setting aside a dollar or two a week for a year ($52-$104) to help at-risk children and families in their struggles, helping those challenged by health issues or disabilities, education and special community projects.
The 20 nonprofit agencies that have applied this year serve the Grant County area in the areas of health and human services, education and youth development.
Under the grouping of health and human services are Avera Medical Group Coordinated Care with 62 active patients; Building Our Families with eight foster households; Disabled American Veterans Milbank Chapter 19 which provides 210 rides for appointments; Grant County ARC which supports 25 at Special Olympics, bus rides, fitness center and camp; Grant County Heart and Diabetes Fund with 49 heart participants and 46 diabetes participants; ICAP 60s Dining Program with LaBolt 45 participants 3,585 total meals served, Milbank 40 participants and 128 home delivery participants, 17,671 total meals served, Stockholm 58 participants, 5,155 total meals served, Strandburg 82 participants, 6,162 total meals served; Inter-Lake Community Action Partnership (ICAP) which assisted in filing 24 returns in Grant County and averaged household income of $21,525; Milbank Community Transit that provided 27,551 rides including 9,367 elderly, 1,378 disabled, 827 general public and 15,979 youth; The Salvation Army with 10 clients, and Unity Health and Fitness 21 charitable memberships.
Within the category of education, the agencies include Grant County Child Protection which serves 1,200 students in all grades and Imagination Library that provides 350 children a book a month for the first five years.
Within the group of youth development organizations are Back Yard Bulldogs Child Care that has 20 children from 17 families; Milbank Area Community Tennis Association (MACTA) numbering 46 in youth lessons, 42 middle school boys and girls, 32 high school boys and girls and 12 adults; Milbank Area Girl Scouts that includes 62 girls; Milbank Area Lions Swim Team (MALST) with 55 swimmers ages from 4 to 18 years; Milbank Ball Diamond Association that impacts 18 VFW and 16 American Legion players and provides sponsorships and T-shirt for 90 in youth baseball; Milbank Boy Scouts of America including 14 families; Milbank High School clay target team with 35 participants from sixth to 12th grade, and Unity Health and Fitness recreation programs with participation at 4,894.
To learn how to donate, look for the GCCA ad inside this issue.
