We are thrilled to announce the winner of our first Donation Give-Away drawing of 2017!
Congratulations goes to Michael Stopka, Executive Director at Mattoon Area P.A.D.S. in Mattoon, Ill., an emergency shelter and community resource open to all individuals and families in need.
It’s our honor to be able to donate a 3-night stay at the spectacular Kinzie Hotel in Chicago, a Preferred Hotels property, for their use in an upcoming raffle.
After the drawing, we reached out to Michael to find out how he plans to use the prize to generate revenue for their lifesaving services in central Illinois. Read on to learn more about their cause, plus get a sneak peek at our next giveaway prize.
Comprehensive care for those at risk
Since 2003, Mattoon Area P.A.D.S. (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) has served as a safe haven for hundreds of homeless or at-risk individuals and families every year.
“We are an emergency shelter open for men, women and children,” Michael explains. “On average we provide over 4,500 shelter nights per year to those most in need.”
In addition to safe shelter, their community kitchen is open to anyone and serves an average 1,200 plates of food per month.
“Each guest meets with a case manager on a weekly basis to work on different goals such as housing and employment,” Michael says.
Finally, day programming throughout the week is offered to help individuals develop workforce skills and increase their self-sufficiency. Past opportunities have included tai chi, book studies, classes, volunteering and cultivating a community garden.
The P.A.D.S. Annual Dinner and Auction
“Mattoon Area P.A.D.S. puts on several fundraisers throughout the year,” says Michael; these include smaller events like Murder Mystery Night, Trivia Nights, cookouts and more, plus interactive events designed to raise engagement and awareness.
“Our biggest fundraiser is our annual dinner every June, which offers a live and silent auction.”
{{cta(‘e37146f6-a952-413d-b280-e1d0806c2985′,’justifycenter’)}}
To maximize dollars raised for their cause, Mattoon Area P.A.D.S. decided to turn the exciting getaway in Chicago into a “Winner’s Choice” raffle prize. This means the raffle winner will get to choose from 3 or 4 different prizes, appealing to a much wider audience and maximizing ticket sales for the event.
They’re aiming to sell 100 tickets at $50 each—another great strategy, since each ticket holder knows they have a fairly good shot at winning. The drawing will be held in conjunction with the June dinner and auction, helping to ramp up night-of momentum.
{{cta(’02ef0822-9c68-40d2-921b-2fc2ed3ed33f’,’justifycenter’)}}
“We are thankful for a trip from Winspire as it will surely make our auction more interesting for our donors,” Michael says. “We look forward to working with Winspire in the future.”
To find out more about this incredible organization and their June event, follow Mattoon Area P.A.D.S. on Facebook and visit their website, www.mattoonareapads.org, for updates.
A growing need
Between state budget issues and ever-growing demand in the community, fundraising is always top of mind. Michael is currently spearheading the Haven of Hope campaign for a new facility with the space, privacy and security needed to fulfill the mission of Mattoon Area P.A.D.S.
We know so many of you have similar stories. The need could not be greater.
That’s why we are passionate about giving away quarterly donations, developing event resources, offering free auction expertise, and creating top-notch travel packages that elevate auction catalogs with no upfront cost.
{{cta(‘f926ff52-3582-4ed3-9983-0e61ce963e7a’,’justifycenter’)}}
Could your organization win our next prize? Every 3 months, one lucky blog subscriber receives a donated item worth $1,000 or more for use in an upcoming fundraiser.
Click below to find out what we’re giving away in just a couple months, then multiply your odds of winning by referring others to Winspire News.
{{cta(‘e3c176c7-cf47-4413-8295-b07e0ab8a14d’,’justifycenter’)}}
Win over $1,000 in Auction Items
Subscribe to Winspire News for weekly event fundraising tips and you could win over $1,000 worth of donated items to use in your next charity auction! Then increase your odds by sharing this link with your colleagues and staff.
{{cta(‘adce1921-14bf-4107-a127-5de1cc98a062′,’justifycenter’)}}
