During a time of funding cuts and increased need, the McHenry County Community Foundation steps in to match SleepOut for Shelter donations
The McHenry County Community Foundation has partnered with Pioneer Center for Human Services to offer a 2 to 1 match on all SleepOut for Shelter donations up to $100,000. SleepOut for Shelter is an annual fundraiser and awareness event for McHenry County PADS, the homeless program of Pioneer Center. Participant’s donations will now go three times as far because of the generous match!
“Sustaining vital programs is what the community foundation is all about,” said Robin Doeden, Executive Director of the Foundation. “It brings us great pleasure to know that we can be there for a community non-profit in a time of need.”
This partnership comes at a crucial time for Pioneer Center. The organization recently learned that the PADS program had its HUD funding cut by $105,000. In the past, through a combination of Pioneer Center’s commitment to the program and a very dedicated community, the organization has been able to bridge financial gaps through fundraising. However, this substantial loss presented an almost insurmountable hurdle until the pivotal partnership with the McHenry County Community Foundation was solidified.
McHenry County PADS merged with Pioneer Center in 2006 and since then has assisted individuals who are homeless regain their lives. The program, designed to address the root problems of homelessness, provides individuals with case management, job training, counseling and psychiatric services, as well as day-to-day services such as access to showers, laundry and warm meals.
“For many years, like many other social service agencies, McHenry County PADS has had to be creative and do more with less. We are very fortunate to have the McHenry County Community Foundation’s support and partnership to help us overcome this year’s funding loss,” said Christin Kruse, Chief Development Officer of Pioneer Center. “And it is only because of donors and organizations like McHenry County Community Foundation that we have been able to sustain the work PADS does.”
Despite funding cuts, McHenry County PADS services remain in high demand. In 2014, 394 men, women and children sought services with 174 people staying in emergency sleeping beds or the transitional living facility. Throughout the year, over 15,508 trips were made throughout the county by the PADS transportation program helping individuals get to shelter sites, job interviews, doctor appointments and more.
To learn more about the 2 to 1 match made by McHenry County Community Foundation visit www.SleepOutforShelter.org.
Pictured are Christin Kruse, Chief Development Officer for Pioneer Center and Robin Doeden, Executive Director for the McHenry County Community Foundation.
