Press Release: February 18, 2009

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Harmon, Director of Communications and Marketing, 614/545-3236 or 614/738-2755
 

THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES CRITICAL NEED ALERT

TO RAISE $1.2 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY NEEDS

IN CENTRAL OHIO IN FEBRUARY

 

Effort to provide support for 20 food and emergency shelter groups
Public is invited to participate on February 26, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Participants can multiply their donations, thanks to availability of a match


Columbus, OH (February 18, 2009)—The Columbus Foundation has issued a Critical Need Alert in response to the dramatic increase in the need for emergency food and shelter in the community this winter. The effort focuses on 20 nonprofit organizations providing food through Choice Food Pantries, emergency shelters, and three major organizations that oversee access to emergency services in the community.

The Foundation issued the Critical Need Alert to provide an easy, strategic way for donors and the community to donate to one, multiple, or all of the 20 food and emergency shelter organizations that are part of the effort.

The public match begins online at www.columbusfoundation.org  on February 26 at 2 pm. Anyone can give, with a minimum credit card gift of $20. Participants have the opportunity to multiply their donation by having the Foundation match 50 cents of every $1 contributed by credit card, with no limit per individual or organization supported. The match is made possible by Columbus Foundation donors and the Governing Committee, who have committed $400,000 in matching charitable dollars to help provide immediate financial support to 20 local nonprofits. ($300,000 in matching funds is available for Columbus Foundation donors, and $100,000 is available in matching funds for the public.)

The following organizations, which are part of The Columbus Foundation’s online database, Power Philanthropy®, are involved:

  • Choice Food Pantries:  Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Catholic Social Services, Clintonville-Beachwood Community Resources Center, Gladden Community House, Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio, Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio, Neighborhood Services, Inc., The Salvation Army, Westerville Area Resource Ministry.
  • Emergency Shelters:  Faith Mission, The Homeless Families Foundation, Huckleberry House, Inc., Mary haven, Inc., Southeast, Inc. (Friends of the Homeless), Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio, YWCA Columbus (Family Center),  CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence.
  • Basic Needs Systems: Community Shelter Board, Mid-Ohio Foodbank, Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (Ohio Benefit Bank)

For full details about the Critical Need Alert and each organization, visit www.columbusfoundation.org, call 614/251-4000, or e-mail p2@columbusfoundation.org.

About The Columbus Foundation and PowerPhilanthropy
The Columbus Foundation is the trusted philanthropic advisor to 1,700 individuals, families, and businesses who have created unique funds to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. Serving the region for 65 years, The Columbus Foundation is one of the ten largest community foundations in the United States today.

PowerPhilanthropy® is a robust database of more than 425 nonprofits in central Ohio—and offers donors and the public an opportunity to make donations online, on any day, at any time. Launched in February 2008, 5,000 people are registered users and to date, more than $2 million has been donated to central Ohio nonprofits through The Columbus Foundation’s PowerPhilanthropy.