Connect to a Cause 2024
Connect to YOUR Cause
Save the date! Connect to a Cause 2024 will take place on September 19th, from 8 AM to 8 PM. This year, we are proud to support 95 incredible non-profit organizations that have a significant impact on our community. Your generosity and commitment have been crucial to our success since 2020, enabling us to raise over $1M for non-profit organizations serving Lorain County. Let’s continue this incredible journey in 2024 and reach new heights together. Join us in making Connect to a Cause 2024 another unforgettable day of giving and community spirit. Your support will empower these 95 non-profits to continue making a difference. Together, we can create a brighter future for everyone.
Connect to a Cause 2024Participating Non-profits
1. A Dementia Friendly LIFE: MY SITE – Non-Profit Dementia Organization (dflife.org)
2. American Red Cross of North Central Ohio: American Red Cross
3. Amherst Board of Education: Board of Education
4. Amherst Historical Society: Amherst Historical Society |
5. Avon Lake City Schools Foundation: Home | ALCSF
6. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County (bigloraincounty.org)
7. Black River Audubon Society: Black River Audubon Society
8. Blessing House: Blessing House
9. Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio: Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio – Great futures start here! (bgcneo.org)
10. Brownhelm Historical Association: Brownhelm Historical Association | Vermilion OH | Facebook
11. Camp !magine: Imagine the Possibilities (campimagine.org)
12. Camp IDEAS: CAMP IDEAS | Lorain OH | Facebook
13. City Fresh: Fresh Local Veggies For All – City Fresh
14. Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center: Home | Cleveland Hearing & Speech (chsc.org)
15. Common Ground- The Cindy Nord Center for Renewal: Common Ground Center
16. Community Congregational UCC: Community Congregational UCC | Amherst Ohio (theccucc.org)
17. Cornerstone Pregnancy Services: Home – Cornerstone Pregnancy Services
18. Echoing Hills: Echoing Hills
19. Educational Service Center of Lorain County: ESC of Lorain County (loraincountyesc.org
20. El Centro de Servicos Sociales: EL CENTRO DE SERVICIOS SOCIALES, INC. (lorainelcentro.com).
21. Elyria Arts Council: Elyria Arts Council
22. Elyria City Schools Endowment Board: Endowment Board – Elyria City School District (elyriaschools.org)
23. Elyria Community Partnership: Elyria Community Partnership – Elyria Community Partnership (elyriatogether.org)
24. Elyria Public Library Foundation: Foundation | Elyria Public Library System
25. Family Planning Services of Lorain County: HOME | Family Planning (familyplanningservices.org)
26. FireFish Arts: Home – FireFish Arts (firefishfestival.com)
27. Firelands Association for the Visual Arts: FAVA – Firelands Association for the Visual Arts in Oberlin, OH | FAVA – Firelands Association for the Visual Arts | Oberlin, OH (favagallery.org)
28. Firelands School Endowment Fund: Firelands Endowment (firelandsschools.org)
29. Friends of the Elyria Public Library: EPLS Friends | Elyria Public Library System (elyrialibrary.org)
30. Friendship Animal Protective League: Friendship Animal Protective League (friendshipapl.org)
31. Gathering Hope House: Mental Health Lorain County (gatheringhopehouse.org)
32. Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio: Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (gsneo.org)
33. Good Knights: Good Knights
34. Goodwill Industries of Lorain County: Goodwill of Lorain County – Goodwill of Lorain County | Thrift Stores, Donation Centers, & Career Centers (gwlco.org)
35. Grafton Midview Public Library: Home Page | Grafton-Midview Public Library (gmplibrary.org)
36. Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity: Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity
37. Harrison Cultural Community Centre: Harrison Cultural Community Centre – Community – Lorain, Ohio (harrisonccc.org)
38. Hearts of Patriots: Hearts of Patriots – Caring for Your Combat Veteran (vetspouse.org)
39. Henry Johnson Center
40. Jones Chapel A.M.E. Church: Jones Chapel AME Church
41. Keystone Board of Education: Board of Education Members | Board of Education (keystonelocalschools.org)
42. Leadership Lorain County: Home – (leadershiploraincounty.com)
43. Legal Aid Society of Cleveland: Legal Aid Society of Cleveland – Rights. Dignity. Justice. (lasclev.org)
44. Let’s Get Real: Let’s Get Real Inc. (letsgetrealinc.org)
45. LGBTQ+ Lorain County: LGBTQ+ Lorain County
46. Lorain Board of Education: Board of Education – Lorain City School District (lorainschools.org)
47. Lorain Community Music Theater: Community Theater | Lorain Community Music Theater | Ohio
48. Lorain County Community Action Agency: HOME Lorain County Community Action Agency (lccaa.net)
49. Lorain County Free Clinic: Home – Lorain County Free Clinic (lcfreeclinic.org)
50. Lorain County Historical Society: Lorain County Historical Society – Celebrate history (lchs.org)
51. Lorain County Imagination Library: Lorain County Imagination Library | Community Foundation Lorain County (peoplewhocare.org)
52. Lorain County JVS: Lorain County JVS (lcjvs.com)
53. Lorain County Metro Parks: Lorain County Metro Parks
54. Lorain County Office on Aging: Lorain County Office On Aging (lcooa.org)
55. Lorain County Safe Harbor Genesis House: Genesis House Lorain County Safe Harbor (genesishouseshelter.org)
56. Lorain County Section of NCNW: The Mission of NCNW (ncnwloraincountysection.com)
57. Lorain County Urban League: Lorain County Urban League – Empowering Communities. Changing Lives. (lcul.org)
58. Lorain Historical Society: Home | Lorainhistory
59. Lorain Lighthouse Foundation: Lorain Lighthouse – “Jewel of the Port®”
60. Lorain Palace Theatre: Lorain Palace Theatre Home –
61. Main Street Lorain: Downtown Lorain
62. Main Street Amherst: Main Street Amherst | Come Help Us Grow
63. Oberlin Business Partnership: Oberlin Business Partnership
64. Main Street Vermillion: Main Street Vermilion
65. Main Street Wellington: Main Street Wellington – Main Street Wellington
66. Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-A-Child: Clothe-A-Child – The Mary Lee Tucker Fund, Inc. (clotheachildneo.org)
67. Mercy Foundation of Lorain County: Mercy Health Foundation of Lorain County | Mercy Health
68. Midview Schools Endowment: Home (midviewschoolsendowment.org)
69. Neighborhood Alliance: Home – Neighborhood Alliance (myneighborhoodalliance.org)
70. North Ridgeville City Schools Endowment Funds: Endowment Funds – North Ridgeville City School District (nrcs.net)
71. North Ridgeville Community Care: North Ridgeville Community Care – Home (nrcommcare.org)
72. Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra: Home Page | NOYO – Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra | Oberlin, OH
73. Oberlin Choristers: Children’s Choir | Oberlin Choristers (ochoristers.org)
74. Oberlin Community Services Council: Oberlin Community Services
75. Oberlin Schools Endowment Fund: obfund.org
76. P.A.C.E. Foundation: P.A.C.E. Foundation
77. Partners with Paws of Lorain County: Partners With Paws of Lorain County, Inc. – Pet Adoption, Fundraising (partnerswithpawslc.com)
78. Primary Purpose Center: Substance Abuse | Alcohol & Substance Abuse | Elyria (primarypurposecenter.com)
79. Riveon Mental Health and Recovery: The Nord Center and The LCADA Way
80. Road to Hope House: Road to Hope (New) (road-to-hope.org)
81. Ruby N. Jones Community Scholarship Fund: Home | Ms.Ruby N.Jones (msrubyscholarship.org)
82. Sandstone Summer Theatre: Home (google.com)
83. Save Our Children: Save Our Children
84. Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio: Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio
85. Sheffield-Sheffield Lake School Endowment Fund: Endowment / Endowment (sheffieldschools.org)
86. South Amherst Historical Society: South Amherst Historical Society (southamhersthistoricalsociety.org)
87. Spirit of ’76 Museum – SLCHS: Southern Lorain County Historical Society – The Spirit of ’76 Museum (thespiritof76museum.org)
88. St. Frances Cabrini Church: Saint Frances Cabrini
89. The Foundation of the Lorain Public Library System: Lorain Public Library
90. The Salvation Army of Lorain County: Donate to The Salvation Army (salvationarmyusa.org)
91. United Way of Greater Lorain County: Home – United Way of Greater Lorain County (uwloraincounty.org)
92. Voices for Children: Contact Us (vfclc.org)
93. Wellington Board of Education and Endowment: Board of Education / Vision and Mission (wellingtonvillageschools.org) Wellington Schools Endowment / Home (wellingtonvillageschools.org)
94. Western Reserve Land Conservancy: Western Reserve Land Conservancy | Northeast OH Conservation (wrlandconservancy.org)
95. YWCA Elyria: YWCA Elyria
Business Champions
We extend our sincerest thanks to our incredible Business Champions who generously contributed over $53,000 during Connect to a Cause 2023. Your support makes a significant difference in our community, and we are truly grateful for your commitment to causes that matter.
If you’re interested in becoming a Business Champion and joining us in making an impact next year, please don’t hesitate to contact our Development Officer, Laura Malone. Your partnership would be invaluable, and together, we can continue strengthening our community through Connect to a Cause 2024. Thank you for considering this opportunity!
2024 Business Champions
‘RAISE THE BAR’ BUSINESS CHAMPIONS
‘SURPRISE!’ BUSINESS CHAMPIONS
‘SHOW ME THE MONEY’ BUSINESS CHAMPIONS
Aztec Steel | Buckeye Community Bank | Wickens Herzer Panza |
Corrigan Krause | EMC Precision | Emerald Hospitality Associate |
Fauver Legal | Fifth Third | Kidsmile, Inc. |
L.E. Belardo, LLC | Lake Erie Electric | Mermaid’s Tale |
Modern Poured Walls | PNC | Ross Environmental |
Simplified | Strategy Design Partners | Vandemark Jewelers |
FAQs for Donors
Connect to a Cause is a community-wide day of giving created to support local non-profit agencies in Lorain County. All donations are coordinated by the Community Foundation of Lorain County and then disbursed to participating organizations following the day of giving.
- There is no limit to the amount of money a non-profit can raise during Connect to a Cause. The number of donors is also not limited.
- A minimum of 25% of the organization’s fundraising proceeds from Connect to a Cause will remain in each organization’s agency endowment fund. The remaining donations will be given directly to the organization to support its mission.
- A preliminary donation total will be announced at 8:00 PM on Thursday, September 19, with the final total raised on October 4.
The easiest way to make a donation will be through the Community Foundation website at peoplewhocare.org by using a debit or credit card. However, other forms of payment are accepted as well.
- Checks and/or cash donations must include the Check & Cash Donation Form and be postmarked by Thursday, September 19, or delivered in-person to the Foundation office by 8:00 PM on September 19.
- Donor Advised Fund (DAF) and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) donations must include the DAF & IRA Contribution Form. While the DAF/IRA check will come from the DAF/IRA administrator, a copy of the DAF/IRA donation form must be received by email by 8:00 PM on September 19.
- While recurring donations are encouraged, only donations received on the Connect to a Cause day count towards the total.
- The minimum donation amount is $5.
We encourage donors to use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to help support their favorite non-profit’s participation in Connect to a Cause. You can also build momentum by responding to the content posted on our Community Foundation Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram pages. The hashtag #C2CLorainCounty will be the central “hub” for Connect to a Cause communication.
Community Foundation/Connect to a Cause Social Networks:
Facebook
@CommunityFoundationLorainCounty to tag
C2C hashtags: #peoplewhocare #causesthatmatter #C2CLorainCounty
Twitter
@Connectcarematr to tag
C2C hashtags: #peoplewhocare #causesthatmatter #C2CLorainCounty
Instagram
@Connectcarematr to tag
C2C hashtags: #peoplewhocare #causesthatmatter #C2CLorainCounty
LinkedIn
@CommunityFoundationLorainCounty to tag
C2C hashtags: #peoplewhocare #causesthatmatter #C2CLorainCounty
There is no fee associated with participating in Connect to a Cause for the organization. However, any donation made via credit card will incur processing fees of 2.9% plus $0.30. We have implemented an option for donors to cover a portion of the credit card fee at a flat rate of 3%.
The Community Foundation will acknowledge all contributions with tax receipts. Automatic thank you emails with the tax receipts will go out to all donors who donate via credit card at peoplewhocare.org. Donations by check will be acknowledged throughout the month of October.
Unless a donor makes an anonymous donation, donor information will be shared with the non-profits for their own, non-tax-related thank you letters.
For marketing, or general questions:
Brittany Lovett, Marketing, Communications and Strategic Initiatives Officer
blovett@peoplewhocare.org
440.984.7390
For questions regarding your endowment fund:
Laura Malone, Development Officer
lmalone@peoplewhocare.org
440.984.7390
For questions regarding donations:
Jim Stobe, CFO
jstobe@peoplewhocare.org
440.984.7390