|
Top 10
Michigan
and
Illinois
nonprofit
organizations
to share
$375,000
in
charitable
grants
WARREN,
MI - A
race to
the
finish!
The
spirited,
five
week
competition
among
120
Midwest
nonprofits
vying to
win a
portion
of
$375,000
in
grants
the 7th
Annual
Art Van
Charity
Challenge
concluded
on
Monday,
June 22
after
shattering
last
year’s
fundraising
tallies
and
garnering
a
staggering
$2,222,483
in
donations
and
grants.
The
first
place
winner
of a
$75,000
grant is
Grace
Centers
of Hope
in
Pontiac,
Michigan,
an
organization
committed
to
positively
changing
the
lives of
the
homeless,
addicted
and
unwanted,
which
raised
$188,858
during
the
competition.
The
participating
charities
in
Michigan,
Illinois,
Indiana
and Ohio
competed
to raise
the most
money
for
their
organizations
between
May 18
and June
22. The
nonprofits,
focusing
on
children,
health
care and
human
services,
raised
over $1
million
more
than in
the
previous
year’s
challenge.
The
other
nine
winning
charities
in the
Top 10
receiving
grants
include:
The
Rainbow
Connection
in
Rochester,
Michigan
(second
place -
$65,000),
Friends
for the
Dearborn
Animal
Shelter
in
Dearborn,
Michigan
(third
place -
$55,000),
Racquet
Up
Detroit
in
Detroit,
Michigan
(fourth
place -
$45,000),
New Day
Foundation
for
Families
in
Rochester,
Michigan
(fifth
place -
$30,000),
ACCESS
in
Dearborn,
Michigan
(sixth
place -
$25,000),
Wigs 4
Kids of
Michigan
in St.
Clair
Shores,
Michigan
(seventh
place -
$20,000),
Jackson
Chance
Foundation
in
Chicago,
Illinois
(eighth
place -
$15,000),
The Well
of Mercy
in
Chicago,
Illinois
(ninth
place -
$10,000)
and Cass
Community
Social
Services
in
Detroit,
Michigan
(tenth
place -
$7,500).
Cindy
Crawford,
international
supermodel,
businesswoman,
and
philanthropist,
served
as the
2015 Art
Van
Charity
Challenge
ambassador.
“Thousands
of
individuals
gave
their
time and
money to
support
these
exemplary
nonprofits
that go
above
and
beyond
to serve
their
communities,”
said Art
Van
Elslander,
founder
and
chairman
of Art
Van
Furniture.
“Exceeding
this
year’s
goal of
$2
million
illustrates
the
depth of
the
generosity
that
exists
in
people’s
hearts.”
All of
the
participating
charities
keep the
funds
raised
during
the
competition.
There
were
numerous
bonus
challenges
during
the
five-week
competition
as well
in which
several
nonprofits
won
bonus
grants,
Art Van
Furniture
gift
cards,
and
other
special
prizes.
This is
the
seventh
consecutive
year
that Art
Van
Furniture
has made
a
substantial
financial
commitment
to
support
the
communities
it
serves
through
this
pioneering
philanthropic
program.
The Art
Van
Charity
Challenge
has now
generated
$22
million
in
donations
and
counting,
donated
over $7
million,
and
supports
261
charities.
The
competition
is
powered
by
CrowdRise.com,
an
online
charitable
fundraising
site.
For
additional
information,
visit
artvancharitychallenge.com. |