Keeping Hope Alive Appeal

campaignlogocolor.jpgOur Need In 1985, The Lighthouse Foundation served approximately 1,000 people in need.  It is time for The Lighthouse Foundation to change again to better serve the needs of the community. Since 1985, our number served has grown significantly.  We currently serve more than 6,000 people annually.  Today, we serve more and more retired adults who are interested in programs to maintain their health and quality of life. The Lighthouse Foundation is in a position to serve more residents of our area who are in need but we’re simply out of space.  The staff is using every available square foot of our various facilities and still does not have enough space. In order to continue our mission, we must address the problems a rapidly growing client load.  It is time to expand our Kaufman Drive Transitional Living program, purchase our Wheels of Work facility, expand our furniture warehouse and interim housing facility at Safe

Harbor, retire our existing debt and implement a plan for leadership succession.               The Lighthouse Foundation has served the community well for more than 20 years and with improvements and limited expansion can continue to provide much needed social services to residents of our area for many years to come. Since its beginning in 1985, The Lighthouse Foundation has: 

  • Distributed over 5 million pounds of food
  • Provided over 40,000 pieces of furniture and appliances
  • Served over 145,000 meals
  • Provided over 45,000 nights of lodging through our transitional housing program
  • Provided computer training to over 1,200 people
  • Received and redistributed over 1,400 donated vehicles
  • Prevented eviction, foreclosure or utility termination for over 5,000 families at a cost of more than $750,000
  • Logged over 3,500,000 miles transporting food, furniture, vehicles and people
  • Fielded over 300,000 requests from people in crisis or facing emergencies
  • Provided help, hope and healing to over 35,000 people
  • Distributed over 350,000 toys to local needy children at Christmas
  • Returned over $12 million in goods and services to the needy families of northern Allegheny Butler Counties.

A Plan to Meet Future Needs 

For the past two years, Lighthouse Foundation staff and volunteers have been putting together a plan for expanding and improving the present Lighthouse facilities and programs.  Ideas, opinions and desires regarding program offerings and physical facilities were obtained from Lighthouse staff, volunteers and clients.  Vernon Borchert, Chief Executive Officer, along with Lighthouse Foundation Board Members, carefully reviewed present and future needs of The Lighthouse Foundation. 

Funds raised in the “Keeping Hope Alive” Special Gifts Appeal will result in the following improvements to The Lighthouse Foundation facilities and programs:

·        A much needed second transitional living unit at our  Kaufman Drivelocation in Butler.  Kaufman Drive Phase II will be a transitional housing program that will target homeless families with children.  Five housing units will be constructed and families will be permitted to remain in the program for a maximum of twenty-four months.  Three of the units will be used for single parent families and two units will be used for two-parent families.  Kaufman Drive Phase II will provide a safe and supportive environment in which homeless families can learn the skills and access the resources necessary to become self-sufficient, with the ultimate goal of assisting the family to obtain and remain in a permanent housing situation.  The total cost of Kaufman Drive Phase II will be approximately $500,000.·        The acquisition of our Wheels of Work garage on Route 68 in Evans

City. The Wheels of Work program was established in 1999 by The Lighthouse Foundation and is designed to provide safe and reliable vehicles to disadvantaged families and individuals.  The Wheels of Work program has a profound effect upon recipients.  Families and individuals frequently experience a rebirth of hope and renewed ambition to succeed.  The total cost to purchase the present Wheels of Work garage will be approximately $200,000.

·        The purchase and renovation of Safe Harbor in

Butler.  Today, families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population and one in ten families lives in poverty.  Currently, there is no program in the

Butler area that provides interim alternative housing for the homeless. 

Safe

Harbor will provide six apartments that will provide housing for up to thirty days for homeless individuals and families.  Presently, homeless clients are placed for two or three days in area motels.  This practice is expensive and not a very effective way to provide for the homeless.   

Safe

Harbor will be jointly managed by The Lighthouse and Catholic Charities.  The Lighthouse Transitional Housing Case Manager will have an office at

Safe

Harbor along with Catholic Charities staff. 

Safe

Harbor will also be utilized as a furniture warehouse for The Lighthouse.   The total cost of this project will be approximately $400,000.

·        The elimination of our current debt.  The total cost will be approximately $200,000.

·        Funds necessary to assure a smooth transition in Lighthouse leadership. The total cost will be approximately $100,000.

·        Operating capital needed for current expenses. The total cost will be approximately $100,000.

The total cost to accomplish all of the above is approximately $1,500,000.

Progress Through Thoughtful Giving…the “Keeping Hope Alive” Special Gifts Appeal: 

            The Board of Directors of The Lighthouse Foundation has approved a Special Gifts Appeal called “Keeping Hope Alive”.  The appeal has a goal of raising $1.5 million in gifts and pledges by June 30, 2008. In order to fully subscribe the $1.5 million, generous gifts will be needed from many sources over a three-year pledge period.  Listed below are the number and amounts of gifts that will be needed from individuals, churches, foundations, corporations, families, board members and staff, if the goal is to be met.

Giving Suggestions    

The size of commitments that will be necessary for the “Keeping Hope Alive” Special Gifts Appeal will require thoughtful consideration and careful planning.  Several ways of giving are suggested to aid donors in finalizing their decisions.  Budgeted Gifts – When making a substantial gift, it is often helpful to budget one’s gift over a period of time.  The Appeal Steering Committee has adopted a three-year payment period as a suggested standard for pledges.  Payments may be made annually, semi-annually, quarterly or any other way that best meets a donors needs.  Gifts of Appreciated Securities – Of all the methods for making significant gifts, perhaps the most advantageous way of giving is appreciated securities.  When giving such securities or bonds, the donor must transfer these directly to The Lighthouse Foundation.  In doing so, it enables the donor to make a significant gift while at the same time, taking advantage of allowable tax savings. Gifts of Appreciated Property – Transferring real estate or tangible personal property, worth more than the original purchase price, is another way to make substantial contributions.  Such gifts can also produce tax savings for the donor. 

IRA Charitable Rollover – Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, individuals 70½ years old or older may make a qualified charitable distribution outright to charity in an amount up to $100,000 per year directly from an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA).  A distribution from an IRA to benefit The Lighthouse Foundation must be an outright gift distributed directly from the IRA trustee or administrator.   

Matching Gifts – Many corporations have matching gift plans for their retired employees.  Matching gifts can often double or even triple one’s gift to The Lighthouse Foundation. Please check with your employer’s human resource office to see if they will match your gift.  Donors using matching gifts will receive credit for both their personal gift and the matching gift.            

No one person or group can meet the challenge facing us.  Only together, as we share our resources and dreams, can we meet our goals.              As you consider your part in the “Keeping Hope Alive” Special Gifts Appeal, consider the following: ·        Pledge payments may be paid over three or more taxable years.·        A Statement of Intent is not binding and may be changed or cancelled should the need arise.·        Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.·        Gifts of appreciated securities are welcome and may provide you with additional savings. 

For more information on the “Keeping Hope Alive” Special Gifts Appeal, please contact Jaime Carter at (724)586-5554.