Lamar County nonprofits to benefit from East Texas Giving Day

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On Tuesday, April 26, five Lamar County nonprofits, CitySquare Paris, St. Joseph’s Community Foundation, Tailored Rides Equine Assisted Therapy, Baby Gunns Animal Rescue, and Paris Junior College Memorial Foundation join with over 290 organizations throughout north and east Texas as part of East Texas Giving Day. From 6 a.m. until Midnight, our community has an opportunity to help others in making a ‘gift’, large or small, through the website, www.easttexasgivingday.com and invest in the lives of others. By logging in to this site, your gift can be directed to the nonprofits of your choice.

CitySquare Paris exists to fight the causes and effects of poverty through service, advocacy and friendship. In 2021, CitySquare Paris saw a 300% increase in utilization by our neighbors, providing services to 518 individuals/families. In addition, the Teen Center saw numbers continually rise from 124 in 2020, when schools were shut down or virtual, to 223 visiting after-school to receive a snack and meal, along with tutorial help and building relationships in a safe environment in West Paris. All services are free to our neighbors and teens. For more information, contact Derald Bulls at 903-706-2990 or dbulls@citysquare.org.

St. Joseph’s Community Foundation supports the medical needs of those most in need by the giving of Educational and Community Grants. The more funds St. Joseph’s Community Foundation receives annually, the more the Foundation puts back into our community. All funds remain in the Red River Valley. The specific focus on medical care helps them to stand out amongst other organizations, as they assist those who are most underserved and in financial need. For more information, contact Louisa Kessel at 903-784-5136 or sjcfparis@gmail.com.

Tailored Rides Equine Assisted Therapy’s offers a mounted therapeutic riding program to help over 5000 individuals in Lamar County with special needs and disabilities achieve their highest potential cognitively, emotionally, and physically. They are proud to utilize the healing power of horses and animals to facilitate emotional, physical, and cognitive growth in all our participants and we can offer each rider, no matter how severe the physical disability, an immeasurable sense of success and self-fulfillment, maximizing his or her health and quality of life. For more information contact, Taylor Sandoval at 903-401-9644 or weybapfarm@yahoo.com.

Baby Gunn’s animal rescue in Paris, Texas, founded in 2018 is a 501(3)c nonprofit animal rescue dedicated to saving one paw at a time big or small. Through the organization, you can adopt or foster a pet. Carla Stowe may be contacted at babygunns@yahoo.com or 903-505-9638.

Paris Junior College is committed to helping all students meet their education goals and enhancing success through innovative learning. More than half of all area high school graduates choose PJC for their college education. State funding for community colleges is decreasing. With the generosity of supporters, PJC can continue its mission of increasing access to higher education to all. For more information contact: Baleigh McCoin, Director at (903) 782-0276 or email bmccoin@parisjc.edu.

To make a donation, you can use your cell phone, ipad, desktop computer, laptop computers and any device with internet accessibility at the website listed above. As a convenience to donors, you can begin scheduling your gifts today! Each donor will receive a receipt the moment the gift is processed via email.

Many of the local participants have matching donors. With your help, each group will have the opportunity to increase their total gifts. A gift of $50 becomes $100 and $500 becomes $1,000! Large or small, every gift makes a difference.

During this particular day, and in the weeks leading up to it, these organizations are utilizing a variety of social media channels-email, Facebook, and Twitter to let the community know about this exciting day.

Coordinated in the region by the East Texas Community Foundation, the 2021 campaign grossed $2 million for the nonprofit agencies who took part. 

According to statistics on Giving Day, this one-day event special has a tremendous ‘reach’ as it extends to many un-tapped donors. Last year, 29% of all donors who make a gift, were new and had never given to one of the organizations taking part in this effort. Younger audiences are more likely to give through this type of even than a ‘normal’ campaign and we certainly want to reach this audience.