Holly Geraci's Help Holly Help Challenge Raises Over $26,000 at One Night Only "Gala Challenge" Event
Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) November 02, 2016 -- On Sunday, October 22, Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois (CER) hosted their Fall Gala. At their last gala event, Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois raised only $14,000 total. Holly Geraci decided to pitch in and Help Holly Help (http://www.HelpHollyHelp.com) extended a one night “Gala Grant Challenge.”
Unlike Help Holly Help’s typical challenges, Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois had only one night to raise up to $10,000 as part of the matching challenge. The guests at the Gala didn’t disappoint.
This year, without matching contributions, Gala attendees raised over $26,000. With Peter Francis Geraci and Holly Geraci’s Matching Grant, CER will be gaining at least $36,000. But the donations didn’t stop or start at the Fall Gala.
Shortly after Help Holly Help linked CER on their website, and indicated they would match money pledged dollar for dollar, notice of donations started to come in through the Help Holly Help Website (http://www.helphollyhelp.com). Even after the Challenge ended, and it was clear the challenge was successful, donations continued.
Help Holly Help thinks, "This specific challenge helped greatly. With the State of Illinois still in a budget crisis, organizations like Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois need all the help they can get. Because Illinois failed to create a fair budget and submit on time payments, Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois started the year $100,000 behind; and this money goes directly towards servicing individuals with developmental disabilities. The money contributed at the Gala Event, and matched by Mrs. Geraci, has helped put a large dent in CER’s yearly budget deficit."
“It is thrilling to see a community come together to help those in need. That is what communities are all about. We are happy to HELP and congratulations to everyone who did the same,” said attorney Peter Francis Geraci.
Julie Smith, the administrator at Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois said, “Covenant Enabling Residences of Illinois reached its goal in one special evening where friends and families gathered for the Fall Harvest Gala on October 23, 2016, surpassing our goal of $10,000 so that the generous foundation Help Holly Help will match our funds. We are so thankful for everyone’s thoughtful gifts. The funds are going directly to the residents to help us continue to provide quality services to adults with developmental disabilities.”
The Help Holly Help Grant Challenges have assisted by raising $49,135 in the month of October.
John Senese, Help Holly Help, http://helphollyhelp.com/, +1 3123321800, [email protected]
Share this article