Featured Match Day participant:
Leaders in Navigating Knowledge (LINK)
Executive Director: Danielle Daugherty
Mission:
LINK is a resource to help the community to gather and share information about the variety of educational opportunities in and around Hancock County.
Organization highlights:
•LINK serves nontraditional students in Hancock County on their journey to plan, prepare and pay for a postsecondary education credential. Think of LINK as a guidance office for grown-ups. Much like what a guidance counselor can do for a high school senior, LINK can do for nontraditional students. LINK’s vision is for every person to have unlimited access to educational resources for college, career and individual success. Whether someone’s goal involves knowing how to pay for college or training, or understanding how to navigate the postsecondary education system, LINK works to help people and businesses connect to the resources they need to keep learning.
•“LINK has given me the necessary resources and help to become successful and independent while I pursue my degree. Within three months, I lost my home and health insurance, became a single parent of a daughter with special needs, and almost lost my part-time job. I was left with the choice of giving up or persevering. I chose to persevere and focus on the things I could control to give my daughter a better life, and decided I needed a better education to give me a career and not just a “job.” LINK has helped me persevere and become a positive role model for my daughter to show her we can get through anything.” — Wendy Doughty, B.A. student at Anderson University (client)
•“LINK fills an identified gap in the resource pool for people who have fallen out of the process of pursuing a postsecondary education. LINK provides Hancock County residents a resource to provide individualized, personal and expert support in getting into the degree attaining process. LINK matters because it is one more venue for citizens to use to grow, attain and prosper in our community, which aids in improving educational levels, employment levels and meeting needs in our community. LINK meets an unmet need and gives hope and opportunity to a deserving part of our community.” — Rob Matt, vice president of Hancock Regional Hospital (past board member)
Match Day funding plans:
The grant that LINK receives for immediate use will be used to support community education events such as FAFSA Filing Day and the Education Expo. The group also plans to use the funds to support operating expenses associated with its monthly organizational activities such as individual client meetings and mentorship.
The grant to grow the endowment plays a key role in LINK’s ability to carry out its mission for generations to come. Because the principal of the endowment remains untouched for all time, the fund provides an ongoing stream of revenue to support the organization’s day-to-day operations and services now and far into the future.
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Match Day, sponsored by the Hancock County Community Foundation, is a day-long fundraising event benefiting 12 local nonprofits. Between now and July 24 (Match Day), we’ll feature these nonprofits and highlight their offerings in the community.
Donations made on Match Day, July 24, will be matched two ways:
1) Every community gift received during the 24-hour period will be matched by funds from a community foundation pool of $80,000, which will go toward the organizations’ immediate needs. How much of that pool is received is proportional to how much the organization raises on Match Day.
2) All community gifts will also be endowed and matched 50 cents on the dollar, up to $7,500 per organization, from a $90,000 grant pool from the Lilly Endowment. This means each organization’s goal is to raise $15,000 in order to receive the entire $7,500 match.
All Match Day contributions must be made on July 24 in order to be counted as part of the campaign. Individuals may make online contributions at giveHCgrowHC.org. They can make a gift by cash, check (dated July 24) or credit card at the foundation office or by phone. Gifts via mail will be accepted only if postmarked July 24.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the Hancock County Community Foundation” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The Hancock County Community Foundation works with individuals, families and organizations to create or grow existing permanent funds called endowments. These funds generate income that is distributed in the form of grants and scholarships to enrich and enhance life in Hancock County, as well as support the donor’s favorite charitable causes, both at home and afar, forever. The foundation has granted more than $10 million since its inception in 1992.
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