Let Us Accept the Challenge
Cardinal Center has been selected to receive a challenge grant of $509,000 from the Dekko Foundation. “This is a thrilling opportunity for us, and one for which we are so grateful to the Dekko Foundation,” said Jane Greene, CEO of Cardinal Center.
The funds will be dispersed over 3 years and will match dollars raised in specific Cardinal fundraising efforts. Those fundraisers that will be matched are: the Cardinal Duck Race, the annual fund letter and the fall “Cardinal Call” luncheon.
The grant is retroactive beginning with the 2007 events. In this first year, the grant is a 1 to 1, dollar-for-dollar match. This year, the Duck Race netted $40,000, which was matched by the Dekko Foundation for a total of $80,000.
“It’s easy to see how this is a huge opportunity for us,” said Greene, “and for the community, whose support of Cardinal Center will be doubled this year through the generosity of the Dekko Foundation.”
In 2008 and 2009, the challenge match will be 75% and 50% respectively, allowing donations to continue leveraging significant additional dollars, up to the $509,000 total.
Cardinal serves more than 3,000 children and adults each year and is heavily dependent upon state and Federal tax dollars. Reductions to government funding such as Medicare have many concerned that provision of services could be threatened if the trend continues.
“There is no guarantee that income will keep up with the needs that Cardinal Center is committed to meet. Expenses are rising, the needs of people being served are more complex, buildings are aging and the need for additional space is looming,” said Greene. “And in the state of Indiana there are 15,000 people with disabilities who are on a waiting list for Medicaid services. It is an enormous challenge that is not going away anytime soon.”
For all these reasons, says Greene, the Cardinal Center Board of Directors has directed monies from the Dekko Foundation Challenge to build the endowment and ensure services can be provided into the future. The principal of the endowment will not be touched but, year after year, the interest will be made available for operating or capital expenses. “An endowment is one way for Cardinal Center to proactively assure that services are always available to those in need, even when times are lean.”
Greene concluded by issuing her own challenge to the community. “The Duck Race and the luncheon are past, but there is still time to take advantage of the 1 to 1 match.” Cardinal Center is preparing to send out the Annual Fund letter in early December. All Annual Fund donations will be doubled by the Dekko Foundation.
If you would like to donate to the Cardinal Center Annual Fund, you may call Leslie Petko at 371-1331 or Candace Townsend at 371-1344.
“Our tremendous thanks go out to the Dekko Foundation for supporting the work of Cardinal Center, and for challenging others to do the same.”