For the third consecutive year, Eat, Drink & Be Giving seeks to score a trifecta for three local charities: Arizona Youth Partnership, GAP Ministries and Interfaith Community Services.
The fundraiser offers food, drink and fun with triple philanthropic impact for the nonprofits dedicated to eliminating poverty at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Plaza Colonial, 2870 E. Skyline Drive.
The collaborative event, which launched a unique approach to fundraising for the organizations, has been extremely successful on multiple levels, according to GAP Ministries CEO Greg Ayers.
βThis event has really helped us to hone in not only on what the three of our organizations do independently, but how we can do those things together,β Ayers said. βI use the analogy that we can play in the same sandbox, but it can be hard to get organizations to build a sandcastle together, and this event has allowed us to see where we overlap and how we can build together in those areas.β
Ayers said the collaboration has also resulted in a new spirit of partnership on various projects between the organizations, which offer different services designed to lift people out of poverty.
- GAP Ministries, one of the largest foster-care providers in Southern Arizona, provides a range of life and job skills training programs;
- Interfaith Community Services is dedicated to stabilizing people in financial crisis and helping them attain a path to self-sufficiency and economic empowerment through emergency financial assistance, a food bank and job training programs;
- Arizona Youth Partnership targets youth-related issues such as substance abuse, homelessness, teen pregnancy and challenging family dynamics.
In the past year, ICS began a partnership with GAP Ministriesβ culinary training and mechanic training programs, GAP Kitchen and GAP Garage; ICS refers clients in its three-month Steps to Stability Program to the GAP job training programs where they can become certified auto technicians or receive 400 hours of rigorous, nationally-accredited culinary training.
βThis is a joint effort to alleviate poverty and get people on the path to self-sufficiency β¦ we help people develop a plan to overcome barriers that may be holding them back and training is often a big barrier. These programs help develop job skills for longer-term solutions to poverty,β said Deborah Carr, ICS philanthropy and public relations director.
In another joint venture, ICS and Arizona Youth Partnership were recently awarded a federal Mental Health Awareness Training Grant from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. ICS will provide Adult Mental Health First Aid, while AZYP provides evidence-based Youth Mental Health First Aid Training.
βThe overall purpose of the project will be to increase the number of individuals in Pima County trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders and to increase linkages among community organizations and resources and refer individuals to those resources. We are excited to get this program going and think it is going to make a huge difference in the community,β said Lori Malangone, executive director of the youth partnership.
The innovative partnerships and approach to combating poverty are appealing to many volunteers who support the organizations, said Wendy Erica Werden, manager of community investment and philanthropy for Tucson Electric Power.
TEP is the presenting sponsor for Eat, Drink & Be Giving for the second consecutive year.
Werden said members of TEPβs community action team serve as members of the board of directors for all three nonprofits and they are particularly happy about the collaborative fundraiser and its ability to raise both funds and awareness about the charities. TEP volunteers will also assist on the evening of the event.
βThe collaboration allows the three organizations to work closely together so they are able to concentrate their efforts. It is a great idea for nonprofits to think about how to cross-collaborate with other community partners so that more people know about the services they provide,β said Werden.
Among those volunteering are TEP volunteer coordinator Shea-Lynn Fernald, who attended last year.
She looks forward to greeting guests and helping to clean up after the event β and enjoying delicious food and dancingβ all while supporting a worthy cause.
βPersonally, I have the time to give and time is money. I enjoy giving to people if they need a helping hand. I have hands and I can help, and that makes me feel good,β said Fernald.
The event, which also features a βGrape Stomp for a Causeβ to highlight the efforts by the three charities to βstomp outβ poverty in the community, targets a diverse crowd of foodies and philanthropists over age 21.
βWe strategically keep ticket prices low to allow more people to participate in the event. It is an affordable evening out, particularly for young philanthropists and couples. Alleviating poverty is an issue that many people can get behind, and this provides a fun way for them to turn their compassion into making a difference,β said Carr.
