Posted 1:21 am Tuesday, September 21, 2010
PATH Working On $1 Million Fundraising Goal
REBECCA HOEFFNER
Staff Writer
People Attempting to Help, or PATH, has earned more than $200,000 of its $1 million goal since the "Faith in Our Future Campaign" was announced Thursday, said C.C. Baker, board member and campaign co-chair.
Staff Writer
People Attempting to Help, or PATH, has earned more than $200,000 of its $1 million goal since the "Faith in Our Future Campaign" was announced Thursday, said C.C. Baker, board member and campaign co-chair.
The nonprofit organization is dedicated to serving "the economically disadvantaged people in Smith County with both emergency assistance and programs to empower and encourage them to become self-sufficient," according to its mission statement. The nonprofit provides food and clothing, pays utilities and rent, and performs other projects to help those in need.
The "Faith in Our Future" campaign is the 25-year-old nonprofit's effort to ensure it can continue to provide help for the next 25 years.
"This campaign is not for bricks and mortar or an endowment fund -- it is a fund that can be accessed when unexpected economic downturns occur and even greater numbers of people need a hand," Baker said at the announcement at the PATH anniversary dinner Thursday. "I like to think of it as the community's emergency fund -- when a person is hungry or needs a prescription filled or help with utilities or finding a job, somehow telling them we cannot help just doesn't seem like what Mrs. Windsor would expect."
Gertrude Windsor founded the nonprofit in 1985 with the help of ministers from various faiths around the Tyler area.
A donor recognition wall was given by campaign chair Trudy Richardson, granddaughter of Mrs. Windsor, in honor of her mother, Gertrude Ann Richardson. Gertrude Ann Richardson worked side by side with her mother to form PATH but died before PATH opened its doors, PATH executive director Christina Fulsom said.
Other co-chairs for the campaign are Rosemary Beaird and Tracy Lisner.
Ms. Fulsom said the number of services provided to families in need has increased by 212 percent since 2000.
"The increase between 2008 to 2009 was 25 percent, with a shocking spike of 40 percent over the summer months. This is compared to a typical year's growth of 12 to 15 percent," she said. "This means that more than 26,000 people turn to PATH for help each year. When the economy weakens, the needs of our clients increase tremendously. At this time, PATH cannot sustain a 25 percent increase in demand for client services."
Baker is confident that the Tyler community will continue to respond to PATH's goal. The nonprofit exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 from the annual PATH week fundraising events, he said.
"The Faith in Our Future campaign is based on our founder's strong belief that we can do better for those in need, for those who have an emergency," Baker said. "It is the recognition that we have been depended on for 25 years to help individuals and families in crisis, and we will be looked to for the next 25 years and beyond to perhaps do even more."
