On September 14, the ninth annual North Texas Giving Day will offer 2,500 nonprofits the opportunity to gain exposure and reach new donors with a shared fundraising platform. Plus, organizations can receive bonus funds and prize money over and above the donations they receive from the public. The event has grown exponentially over the years, raising $37 million in just eighteen hours last year.
Nonprofit organizations in any of the sixteen North Texas counties were eligible to sign up for North Texas Giving Day, but we thought we would highlight some of the many opportunities for your wallet to do some good right here in Frisco!
Heart of Autism
Frisco resident, Nika Arastoupour founded Heart of Autism in 2013 after her son was diagnosed with Autism. The organization is dedicated to raising awareness about autism, empowering adults on the spectrum, and funding scholarships that allow underprivileged families to access much-needed therapies.
Our goal for 2017 is to raise $60,000 for the year through several different fundraisers, one being North Texas Giving Day,” said Ms. Arastoupour. “For North Texas Giving Day, our goal is to reach $5,000.”
They have secured a donor that will match the first $1,000 they raise on North Texas Giving Day. Nika is also hard at work preparing for their next major fundraising event – their 5th Annual Heart of Autism Gala, coming up on September 30th.
Frisco Fastpacs
When we look around Frisco and see so much growth and prosperity, it’s easy to forget that there are many children in our community who rely on free and reduced price lunches at school for their daily nutrition. While most kids look forward to getting a break from school on the weekends, for these kids, the weekend can mean hunger. Frisco Fastpacs works to alleviate that hunger by delivering food to FISD schools each week so that qualifying children have meals to eat at home over the weekend. Frisco Fastpacs began their mission to feed hungry kids in 2013 by delivering food to thirty-two children at one school. For an organization that is only four years old, they have accomplished an impressive amount:
- For the 2016-17 school year, they provided 143,000 meals to FISD children.
- Last school year, volunteers put in over 3000 hours for the organization.
- For the current school year, they are serving 700 kids at forty-three FISD schools each week.
Julie Geiger handles marketing for Frisco Fastpacs and tells me that they hope to reach $5,000 in donations on this year’s North Texas Giving Day – five times the amount they raised through the event last year!
At a cost of $300 per child per school year, $5,000 to us represents more than sixteen children fed each weekend of the school year – or an average school we service,” says Julie.
National Breast Cancer Foundation
National Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1991 by breast cancer survivor, Janelle Hail. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1980 at the age of 34. At the time of her diagnosis, there was little information about the disease, and she was forced to make a decision about her health with few options. After her treatment, Janelle made a commitment to help women around the world by educating them about breast cancer and the importance of early detection.
Breast cancer is one of the leading health crises for women in the United States. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. There is currently no known cure for breast cancer, and its early diagnosis is critical to survival. However, with increased healthcare costs and a rapidly increasing percentage of uninsured women, many simply cannot afford the cost of screening tests. These women are at a significantly higher risk of dying from breast cancer if later diagnosed.
That’s why NBCF provides free mammograms to women in all 50 states through our network of hospitals. We are now joining hands with people around the world to provide breast cancer education.
Becky’s Hope Horse Rescue
Driving along 121 just East of Coit, you may have noticed the vast open field dotted with horses and donkeys. This 120 acres of peace & tranquility is Becky’s Hope, home to nearly 100 animals, including forty beautiful horses. Sue Chapman and her team of volunteers have rescued these animals from situations that were often abusive or neglectful. They work to rehabilitate and, when possible, rehome the animals.
Not a single person at Becky’s Hope takes a salary, so 100% of the money raised goes directly to the care of the animals. Anyone with the organization will tell you this is extremely rewarding work, but it’s also very expensive. Last year, the organization raised $8,000 on North Texas Giving Day, which they used for the set up to start baling their own hay. This helped them cut down their overhead cost. After speaking with Sue, I learned her goal is to exceed that $8,000 mark this year. She has a very generous donor who has agreed to match this year’s contributions. Combine that with the bonus funds from North Texas Giving Day and your contribution on September 14th could be more than doubled! Sue says they plan to use this year’s funds to build a barn for senior horses so they would have a dedicated space to meet the special needs of these horses.
Additionally, the rescue has put out an offer to temporarily take in any horses that have been displaced by Hurricane Harvey, so they will likely be facing some additional expenses soon. They recognize that as flood waters recede and owners need time to mend fences, repair barns, etc, they need to know their animals have a home and are being well taken care of with love.
National Videogame Museum
In 2016, Frisco became home to the first dedicated videogame museum in the country. The National Videogame Museum chronicles the development of this multi-billion dollar industry by taking guests on an interactive tour and allowing them to step back in time. However, the NVM is not concerned only with the past, but also wants to contribute to the future of the industry. In a major announcement last month, the NVM launched their new scholarship program. The first annual NVM College Scholarship will award four distinct scholarships, each with its own eligibility requirements. One of these scholarships will specifically be awarded to a Frisco applicant. The National Videogame Museum is hoping the community will help them support the next generation of STEM students by contributing to the NVM scholarship funds on North Texas Giving Day.
Frisco Youth Theatre
As part of the family of theatres under North Texas Performing Arts, Frisco Youth Theatre offers children in our community an opportunity to shine on stage. They offer theatre classes and workshops and put on major productions that surpass the level you would expect from children’s theatre. And while the artistic staff is fantastic at teaching children how to act, sing and dance, they realize that their students come away from their program with life skills that will serve them beyond the stage. Just to name a few, they learn that every role is critical to a team’s success, that discipline and focus go a long way towards accomplishing a goal, and that it is important to deliver on your commitments.
Frisco Youth Theatre currently rents various venues around town for their rehearsals & performances, but they hope to have a permanent space of their own soon. According to FYT Managing Director, Lindsey Lederer,
We hope to have our very own home and fully furnished set build shop in Frisco. North Texas Giving Day donations will go towards our capital campaign,” and help that dream become a reality.
Because all of the individual theatres roll up into the umbrella of North Texas Performing Arts, that is how you will see the organization listed on the North Texas Giving Day site. To direct your donation specifically to Frisco Youth Theatre, simply put FYT in the notes section of your donation. The family of theatres is planning to have a lot of fun with this campaign. When one of the theatres hits $2,500 in donations, the managing director of that theatre will get a pie to the face, live on facebook! And if the theatre reaches $7,500 in donations, the managing director will dye his or her hair in their theatre’s color – so look for Ms. Lederer to be sporting bright red hair around town soon! (Could be worse, the managing director of Fairview Youth Theatre will have to go with shocking purple!)
Frisco Public Library
You’re invited to use your superpowers to impact your local library! Visit the Library during NTGD wearing your favorite superhero garb! From a cap to a full costume, they want to recognize you and celebrate the difference you make. Every donation matters and empowers our Library to serve up enriching experiences that range from early literacy story times to job skills classes and so much more.
Frisco is filled with superheroes and it’s their support that enables us to deliver innovative and enriching experiences at the Library every day,” says Shelley Holley, Library Director. “I look forward to seeing all ages dressed up in their superhero finest on September 14. Who knows? I might just have to find a cape of my own and join in the fun!”
Giving is simple. Just visit friscolibrary.com/friends anytime between 6 am and midnight during September 14 to donate.
Below is a list of some other nonprofits doing great work here in Frisco that you can support on North Texas Giving Day.
- Camp Craig Allen
- Clothe a Child Frisco
- Frisco Association for the Arts
- Frisco Family Services
- Frisco Humane Society
- Frisco Moms Care
- The Miracle League of Frisco
- Meals on Wheels Collin County
While the giving happens online, there are live events happening around the North Texas area as well. The closest live event to Frisco will be the Collin County Giving Day Party in the Park, on September 14 from 5:00-8:00pm at Finch Park. The event will feature live music, dance performances, food trucks, and seventy nonprofit booths. Becky’s Hope, one of the nonprofits featured above, will be at the Party in the Park with some of their sweet animals.
We hope to continue to bring you more in depth information on our local nonprofits in the future. If you know of a fantastic Frisco organization that you would like to see in the spotlight, leave a comment below and let us know about it.