Ozanam News 4th Quarter 2013 Ozanam News | Page 9

Development Updates Consider a TisBest Charity Gift Card for the holidays: Charity gift cards are a wonderful gift for family, friends, or staff. Each gift card recipient has the power to choose how they want to make the world a better place through their charity gift card! To purchase a gift card, use the link: https://www.tisbest.org/default.as px?pc=SVDP and TisBest will donate an extra $2.00 to the National Council for each card purchased. Did You Hear? $2 Million Raised Nationally by the Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run in 2013! those locally. Each walk event is organized by a conference or council of the Society, with the support being provided by the National Development Department. The Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run coordinators across the United States are excited! These walk coordinators are already looking forward to 2014, when they will have the opportunity to break a record they set this year for the Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run. For six consecutive years this event has shown impressive growth every year, but walk coordinators reached a huge milestone this year when they collectively surpassed the $2 million mark! Other notable improvements included a 35% increase in corporate sponsorship over 2012, as well as growth in the number of walk locations and participants. Since this event began in 2008, S ociety of St. Vincent de Pauls’ conference/councils across the United States have raised over $8.5 million, with all of these funds remaining at the conference and council level to help Every year, walkers of all types gather in this nationwide event to raise awareness of the challenges faced by those who are living in poverty, and to raise funds for those in need of emergency assistance in their community. If you are not already hosting a Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run, now is the time to start thinking about your 2014 involvement. There are many benefits to hosting this event, a few of which are: • low-cost opportunity to raise funds for your conference/council; • spreads awareness about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; • National Council will supply templates and support; and • fun way to create new donors/supporters. In 2013, the Diocesan Council of Rockville Centre from Bethpage, N.Y., was the largest walk in the nation, raising over $130,000. How much money can your conference or council earn to help those in need in your community? Any conference or council can participate, so start making plans to host your 2014 Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run today! Save the Date: September 20, 2014! For more information, you can contact Nathan Martin, National Development Programs Manager, by calling 314-576-3993 x218 or email [email protected]. It is our vocation….to set people’s hearts ablaze - St. Vincent de Paul 9