A couple from Pierre is once again sharing their good fortune with people in need.
Scott and Julia Jones capitalized on a nonprofit savings account challenge from the South Dakota Community Foundation to create an endowment benefiting the Pierre Area Referral Services, in perpetuity.
Ginger Niemann, Senior Program Officer for the Community Foundation, says the nonprofit savings account challenge encourages endowed giving. She says $20,000 is provided from Foundation if the nonprofit is able to raise $80,000 within two years.
The more than $100,000 endowment can be used for PARS programs including:
- the Food Pantry;
- the Holiday Food Program, which had over 750 applicants last year (2022);
- the Emergency Assistance Program, which kept the lights on for over 70 families last year;
- the Backpack Food Program in the Pierre and Stanley County elementary schools serving up to 389 children each week during the school year. The program also provided over 200 children with backpacks full of required school supplies.
PARS Executive Director Corwin Jones says receiving money from donations is never a guarantee and this endowment will allow PARS to continue to perform, even in times of uncertainty. He says times of uncertainty are when people need PARS the most.
Donations to the existing Nonprofit Saving Account for Pierre Area Referral Services are invested along with other SDCF endowed funds. A percentage of the fund’s value is made available annually for their organization to distribute to support the mission of their nonprofit. As the fund grows, so will the amount available to give back to PARS. If you would like to donate to the PARS endowment, please visit https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving/support-an-existing-fund.
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