Private donor steps forward to match
up to $5000 in Beach Watcher giving
February 16, 2005
"This is a breakthrough -- absolutely huge!" said Don Meehan, director of WSU Extension - Island County . "You could hear the sigh of relief run through our staff."
Beach Watchers begins the new year with a generous offer from a private donor to match up to $5,000 in financial gifts from others. "This anonymous individual recognized the need to keep basic infrastructure together and viable for a strong Beach Watcher program and wanted to encourage others to give," Meehan said.
He added, "It has been extremely tough in the past couple years to maintain all we have been doing in our community. This gift can create a solid financial foundation that will ensure our programs keep helping our community if others will join in giving."
WSU Extension is calling the new giving concept "20 for 40." The hope is that everyone who participated in programs offered by Beach Watchers in the past might give $20. "This amounts to a gift of about $1.50 per month for the year, but with the private donor's match each of these gifts would be would be worth $40 to the program," Meehan said. "It has the potential to bring in thousands of needed dollars to support Beach Watchers."
WSU Extension hopes to raise over $40,000 through similar matching of all its Island County outreach programs, which include 4H Youth, Master Gardeners, Beach Watchers, Waste Wise and the Lighthouse docents. Meehan said he helps to find other major donors to double the match.
Also available for matching are ticket sales for the April Fools Day spaghetti feed (April 1) to be held at the Recreation Hall in Coupeville. This special event is designed to raise funds for all the community-based work of WSU Extension in Island County .
All gifts to WSU Extension are tax-deductible and may be sent to the WSU Extension office at PO Box 5000, Coupeville, WA 98239 .
Make checks payable to WSU Extension and note that it is a donation. Please be sure to include your address so all gifts may be acknowledged.
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