Columbus House to Participate in 'The Great Give 2016'

From Columbus House, Inc.:

Columbus House is excited to participate in The Great Give 2016! This 36-hour, community-wide online fundraising challenge begins at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3 and ends at 8:00 pm on May 4th. When you give to Columbus House through The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s website during this event, your gift goes further to help Columbus House end homelessness and literally save lives. A portion of all gifts will be matched by a $55,000 incentive fund and may make Columbus House eligible for thousands in grant prizes. Columbus House is asking supporters to give specifically between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4. The organization working in housing and homelessness with the greatest number of individual donors during that hour will win the Liberty Bank grant prize of $3,000.

“The Community Foundation’s Great Give is an exciting way to raise awareness, strengthen our community and generate increased financial support. So many wonderful local organizations and partners benefit from the incentive funds and prizes offered during the challenge,” said John Brooks, Columbus House director of development and public relations.

Last year, Columbus House raised over $18,000 through The Great Give. These funds support Columbus House’s mission to provide shelter and housing services to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and help to reach the statewide goal of ending chronic homelessness by the end of 2016.

Joe, who experienced homelessness much of his life, is one Columbus House client who was recently housed. Joe shared his story in the film “HAVEN Documentary,” created by Quinnipiac film students, and in Columbus House’s newly released 2015 annual report. Joe hopes that by telling his story, he will help others who are struggling with homelessness. Now, in his own apartment, Joe says, “I have less stress. I smile more.” He has also been reunited with his daughters and grandchildren. Further information about Joe is available through the Columbus House website.

Mark your calendars for May 3 and May 4, and plan to give to Columbus House through The Great Give 2016. Your gift will go further to end homelessness and save lives for people like Joe in our community!

Columbus House opened its doors in 1982 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to provide shelter for homeless men and women. Since that time, the agency has expanded its programs dramatically. Today, Columbus House provides not only shelter but also housing assistance and services designed to help people who are homeless move toward independence through innovative programs that meet their changing needs.

Last year, the agency served close to 3,000 clients in four counties (Hartford, Middlesex, New London and New Haven counties) through outreach and engagement, emergency and family shelters, permanent supportive housing, programs for seniors, veterans and those living with HIV/AIDS as well as and addiction, health and employment services. Since its beginning, Columbus House has implemented an integrated system of care by building strong relationships with community partners, and it continues to develop and execute sophisticated strategies to address the root causes of homelessness with progressive programs that move clients toward their own appropriate form of housing.

For more information about the event, homelessness or to become part of the solution to ending homelessness, call (203) 401-4400, ext. 150, or send a message to lkosko@columbushouse.org.