Posted 6:48 pm Friday, January 06, 2012
‘Shine Your Light' Blazed Tyler's Heart
This year's Shine Your Light campaign reflects well on all of East Texas.
Despite the lingering economic downturn, the Tyler community donated more than $225,000 in the multi-agency fundraising effort under the East Texas Communities Foundation.
Shine Your Light began in 2008 as an effort by Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass, the Tyler Paper and several East Texas philanthropists to help nonprofit agencies, which had been experiencing decreased donations during the recession while at the same time seeing increased need for their services.
Publisher Nelson Clyde felt the community could step up and help meet those needs, even in tough times.
“In a caring community such as Tyler, raising money for worthy causes has never been a problem,” he said then. “People have a sense of community and of doing the right thing. They understand their roles in being good citizens and helping others.”
Despite the lingering economic downturn, the Tyler community donated more than $225,000 in the multi-agency fundraising effort under the East Texas Communities Foundation.
Shine Your Light began in 2008 as an effort by Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass, the Tyler Paper and several East Texas philanthropists to help nonprofit agencies, which had been experiencing decreased donations during the recession while at the same time seeing increased need for their services.
Publisher Nelson Clyde felt the community could step up and help meet those needs, even in tough times.
“In a caring community such as Tyler, raising money for worthy causes has never been a problem,” he said then. “People have a sense of community and of doing the right thing. They understand their roles in being good citizens and helping others.”
Shine Your Light had humble hopes in 2008. Initially, the idea was the Tyler Paper would put up $10,000 and ask its readers and TylerPaper.com users to donate whatever dollar amount they could to the four non-profit agencies. But when other concerned community members heard of the idea, that amount rose to more than $23,500 to be used as matching funds. Joining the campaign with matching funds are Citizen's First Bank, the Fourth Partner Foundation, Niblack Charitable Fund, an anonymous donor and Tyler Mayor Barbara and Billy Bass.
The focus was on front-line responders — the East Texas Food Bank, The Salvation Army, PATH and the East Texas Rescue Mission of Tyler. Those agencies are often the first places people turn in tough times.
The community's response far surpassed expectations. In all, 214 donors gave more than $115,000.
The focus was on front-line responders — the East Texas Food Bank, The Salvation Army, PATH and the East Texas Rescue Mission of Tyler. Those agencies are often the first places people turn in tough times.
The community's response far surpassed expectations. In all, 214 donors gave more than $115,000.
In 2009, $114,400 was raised as the recession dragged on. One beneficiary that year was the Bethesda Clinic, a nonprofit, all-volunteer medical facility, which typically serves the “working poor” who don't have health insurance and often aren't eligible for Medicaid.
“To say that funds are sorely needed is a safe statement,” said Dr. John English, director of the clinic.
He said that Shine Your Light would “mean the difference between cutting back on the medical services we provide or pressing forward judiciously with what we're doing now.”
“To say that funds are sorely needed is a safe statement,” said Dr. John English, director of the clinic.
He said that Shine Your Light would “mean the difference between cutting back on the medical services we provide or pressing forward judiciously with what we're doing now.”
In this, the program's third year, the nonprofit agencies benefiting from Shine Your Light will be the Children's Advocacy Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Christian Women's Job Corps, Christian Men's Job Corps, as well as the East Texas Food Bank, the Salvation Army, People Attempting to Help (PATH) and Meals on Wheels. The agencies focus on five key issues: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, helping the unemployed, protecting children and protecting seniors.
Each agency will received about $37,600 from the total; the children's advocacy agencies and the jobs corps groups will split their portions between them.
“That's amazing,” responded Christina Fulsom, executive director of PATH. “Every year it gets better. It seems that the more people know about it the more that's given. On behalf of PATH, thank you. There are people who won't become homeless because of these gifts.”
Added the Tyler Paper's publisher, “This community consistently answers the call when it is time to give. Watching this has been the biggest blessing of my holidays. It is a real privilege to live in this wonderful community.”
Each agency will received about $37,600 from the total; the children's advocacy agencies and the jobs corps groups will split their portions between them.
“That's amazing,” responded Christina Fulsom, executive director of PATH. “Every year it gets better. It seems that the more people know about it the more that's given. On behalf of PATH, thank you. There are people who won't become homeless because of these gifts.”
Added the Tyler Paper's publisher, “This community consistently answers the call when it is time to give. Watching this has been the biggest blessing of my holidays. It is a real privilege to live in this wonderful community.”
