Support people with disabilities on #GivingTuesday

Tuesday, November 27, is #GivingTuesday, a day that not-for-profit organizations across the country seek online donations from their supporters and followers. As part of #GivingTuesday, The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, Inc., are joining hundreds of other organizations in New York State to participate in an initiative called #NYGivesDay.

We are asking people to donate to our “Dream On” Kathy Seastedt Memorial Fund. The Dream On Fund is administered by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. The fund provides money for Chautauqua County residents with disabilities who have urgent needs.  We’ve provided money for things such as:

• enabling a woman to travel to Pennsylvania to visit her aunt after her mother died.
• repairing a couple’s heating system.
• paying for Sign Language classes.
• helping a woman realize for college dream by paying for her room and board.
• enabling people with disabilities to go to summer camp.
• buying eyeglasses, medicine and other needed health-related items.
• making car repairs.
• buying household items such as beds, refrigerators and stoves.

Often, it doesn’t take much money to help someone in need.  For the 2017-18 fiscal year, we spent $20,292.22 to assist 89 people, which averages out to about $228 per person.  And in the case of those who needed help with their rent or utilities, the Dream On Fund enabled about 30 people to keep a roof over their heads or keep the lights on.

Kathy Seastedt

The Dream On Fund is named in memory of Kathy Seastedt, who was a 25-year employee of The Resource Center when she died unexpectedly in 2008.  Kathy had a passion for supporting people with disabilities.  “Dream On” was chosen as the fund’s name because that was name of Kathy’s favorite song by her favorite band, Aerosmith.

As part of #NYGivesDay, incentive prizes will be awarded to organizations that are successful in raising online donations. Here is a list of the prizes that are up for grabs:

First Donation of the Day
(A $250 prize will be awarded to the organization that receives the first online donation.)

Golden Ticket Hours (10:00 – 11:00 a.m.)
(A $250 prize will be awarded to a randomly selected organization that receives an online donation during this hour.)

Lunch Hour Mania (12:00 – 1:00 p.m.)
(A $250 prize will be awarded to a randomly selected organization that receives an online donation during this hour.)

Night Owl (10:00 – 11:00 p.m.)
(A $250 prize will be awarded to a randomly selected organization that receives an online donation during this hour.)

Most Unique Donors
(A $500 prize will be awarded to the organization that has the highest number of unique donors from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.)

Most Dollars Raised
(A $500 prize will be awarded to the organization that raises the most dollars from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.)

Visit https://www.nygivesday.org/organizations/filling-the-gap-inc to make a donation! Thanks for your support!