Foundation doles out quarter-million to 45 groups
By Mike Hixenbaugh
Rocky Mount Telegram
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
A burgeoning local foundation, in the culmination of its first year of operation, distributed more than a quarter-million dollars Tuesday to Rocky Mount nonprofit organizations.
Reach Out Rocky Mount, a group formed last year seeking to boost local charities, announced the $253,000 fundraising total from its spring fun run and handed out checks to 45 nonprofit organizations serving Rocky Mount.
“I’m thrilled. I didn’t expect this much,” United Community Ministries Director Chris Battle said, moments after accepting a ceremonial check for more than $5,000. “With the recession we’re in, there are a lot more homeless and a whole lot more hungry who need help, so this will go a long way to support our programs.”
Battle said the money would go toward purchasing bunk beds for a family of six moving this week into the Bassett Center.
Other charitable directors also praised the mission of Reach Out Rocky Mount during the hour-long, midday ceremony at the Imperial Centre.
Funds raised by the foundation will go toward a plethora of community enrichment programs, including community college scholarships, animal services, therapy for victims of domestic violence, summer baseball leagues and dozens of other causes.
The top recipient of the day, Rocky Mount Academy, was given more than $44,600 to supplement enrollment. Faith Christian School took in more than $36,500 and the Pregnancy Care Center received nearly $30,000 to boost a teen abstinence program.
“A lot of people in the beginning, as we began to get this organized, said ‘This is too good to be true,’” Reach Out Rocky Mount Chairman Lige Daughtridge said. “We just want you all to do well, and to have the money to do it.”
Reach Out Rocky Mount was formed not only to raise funds for area charities, Daughtridge said, but also to unite area nonprofits and volunteers to better serve the community.
Reach Out Rocky Mount’s all-volunteer staff for months leading up to and during the fun run collected donations for partnering nonprofits. The foundation distributed 100 percent of the donations to the named charity and offered a 70 percent match.
Battle said he was “blown away” by how much the organization was able to raise in its first year and said he expects even greater fundraising totals in years to come. Daughtridge said the same.
“We’ve got to depend on this community to support our organizations,” Daughtridge said, “and that’s what we’re trying to get across.”
Visit www.reachoutrockymount.org for a complete list of participants or to volunteer with the organization.
To view the Telegram Slideshow of the check presentations, click here.
To view the Telegram Slideshow of the 2009 Fun Run, click here.