Amarillo Magazine | Year-end Giving Guide

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GIVING GUIDE

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n our annual Year-End Giving Guide, we feature a number of local nonprofits and their important work.

As you plan your end-of-year giving, consider helping financially or by volunteering your time throughout the year.

Family Care Foundation Year established: 1997 History: The Family Care Foundation was conceived in 1997 for the purpose of providing medical care and equipment for patients and families in our community who demonstrate a need, but cannot otherwise obtain such services or equipment. The Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) community organization. All donations provided go directly to our community members who are in need of medical services or equipment. The Foundation is run by its Board of Directors. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided in excess of $2,000,000 in charity care to people in the Amarillo community and the Panhandle area.

Mission: To assist in the health care needs of individuals and the community in a Christian and caring manner, while promoting the dignity of the patient.

Programs and services: Inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient procedures, prescription drug assistance, IV, eye glasses, hearing aids, dental services, wheel chairs, shower stools and tub rails Areas served: Texas Panhandle Notable milestones: Providing $2,000,000 in medical care with a volunteer board of directors.

Plans for the future: To raise additional funds to provide more medical care to individuals in our community.

Current campaigns: Giving Tuesday Upcoming fundraisers and events: Annual Fundraiser is Up In The Air For Family Care balloon rally.

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How to Help

• The best way to help is through monetary donations.

Family Care Foundation works with several local providers that give us discounted rates. We can stretch every donation dollar we receive.

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P O Box 15203 622.9473 familycarefdn.org

Family Support Services Year established: 1908 History: Family Support Services of Amarillo (FSS) traces its roots back to more than a century ago. What began as the city’s first charity in 1908, Associated Charities, eventually merged with various local welfare entities over the years to become FSS in January 1993.

Mission: To empower individuals and families through comprehensive advocacy, intervention and prevention services.

Programs and services: Crisis Services (domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking intervention and prevention); Emergency Housing; Veteran Resources; Behavioral Health & Wellness; Education. FSS has the only Safe House in Amarillo-Canyon, a 24-hour Crisis Hotline for domestic violence and sexual assault, a state-certified program for those convicted of domestic violence offenses, specialized counseling services for trauma survivors and those with PTSD, and home- and school-based programs for at-risk families. The agency has added Transitional Housing and Labor Trafficking intervention and Prevention in the past year.

Areas served: Amarillo-Canyon with some programs reaching throughout the Texas Panhandle Notable milestones: Veterans Resource Center, 2014; EquineAssisted Therapy services, 2015; outreach to veterans and their families, 2018; celebrated 25th year of the Original Harley Party, and added Labor Trafficking services, 2019. The agency serves more than 25,000 people each year and provides most services at no cost to the client.

Plans for the future: Continue to explore services for those affected by suicide, labor trafficking victims, those who need transitional housing to escape the cycle of violence, expanded counseling for trauma survivors, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy – for which FSS has 2 of only 4 certified counselors in Amarillo.

Current campaigns: Community-wide awareness program for domestic violence (October); participation in #Giving Tuesday community campaign Nov. 25-Dec. 3.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: Mardi Gras Party, Feb. 15, 2020; 26th annual Original Harley Party, July 25, 2020

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How to Help

• FSS welcomes donations, event sponsors, and volunteers.

1001 S. Polk St. | 342.2500 | fss-ama.org YEAR-END GIVING GUIDE • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Hands On Amarillo Year established: 2014 History: Hands On Amarillo started from an idea that Founder, Lizzie Ware Williams, had while working at Amarillo National Bank. She wanted to make it easier for people to connect with organizations, with which they could volunteer.

Mission: To connect nonprofit organizations with passionate, enthusiastic volunteers.

Programs and services: We offer a free, all-online service for nonprofit organizations that are looking to recruit volunteers, and for individuals to seek out places they would like to volunteer.

Areas served: We currently serve Amarillo, but have the capacity to serve the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle.

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How to Help

• You can visit handsonamarillo.org to start serving our community!

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Notable milestones: As of September 2019, we have registered more than 120 organizations and more than 1,800 volunteers!

Plans for the future: We want to expand our reach into local colleges and universities, and also into towns surrounding Amarillo.

Current campaigns: All year round we are looking for organizations and people to learn how they can volunteer within Amarillo and our surrounding communities.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: The Panhandle Gives Giving Tuesday will be in November. Please consider a gift to Hands On Amarillo!

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handsonamarillo.org

Heal the City Free Clinic Year established: September 2014 History: The founder of Heal the City, Alan Keister, M.D., realized the desperate need for health care witnessed on medical mission trips to Central America was not exclusive to third-world countries, but was equally pervasive in neighborhoods within Amarillo. On Sept. 8, 2014, utilizing a 1,400-square-foot house owned by Next Generation Church, Heal the City Free Clinic opened its doors to a line of patients in need of health care. In the house, HTC saw an average of 80 patients at a Monday night clinic. HTC has experienced incredible growth. We are currently on track to provide more than 20,000 patient visits for 2019.

Mission: To provide free, quality medical care and referral services with compassion and dignity to the uninsured of our community.

Programs and services: Acute Care Clinic; Shalom Chronic Care; Spiritual Care; Mental Health Services; Dental Services; Pharmacy; Social Services; Vaccines; Specialists; Optical Services; Wellness Classes Areas served: Heal the City has provided services to patients in 44 counties. This includes the 26 in the Texas Panhandle and counties in New Mexico and Oklahoma.

Notable milestones: On Aug. 9, Heal the City celebrated the opening of the main entrance and the Nest (Phase II of the facility). The Nest contains a large waiting room, Keisters Kids Space, staff offices, the lounge, the Cafe and resource rooms. Space was also designated for mental health assessments. Heal the City celebrated five years of providing quality medical care to the uninsured.

Plans for the future: Construction has commenced on our Wellness Center with anticipated completion in Spring 2020. The Wellness Center will provide space for education and fitness classes for our Shalom Chronic Care Program.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: Third Annual Saddle Up and Save a Life Event, April 4, 2020.

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How to Help

• Pray for our patients, volunteers and staff.

• Volunteer your time.

• Provide financial support.

609 S. Carolina St. | 231.0364 healthecityamarillo.com

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Lone Star Ballet Year established: 1975 History: LSB was established in 1975 and has developed through the visionary planning and commitment of many individuals on both the business and artistic sides.

For 43 years Lone Star Ballet, Inc., has become a cultural force in Texas. The company has two objectives: to serve as a training ground for aspiring young dancers, and to provide enriching dance experiences for audiences. Lone Star Dance Academy was established in 2003, and has seven academies in Amarillo, Borger, Dumas, Hereford, Panhandle, Plainview and Dalhart. LSB has two outreach programs at the Maverick Boys & Girls Club and Turn Center, with a new facility planned for the Warford Center.

Mission: To produce and promote the art of dance and contribute to the education, culture and entertainment of the people of Texas and the surrounding states.

Programs and services: Three to four mainstage productions a year; one annual guest performance; The Lone Star Dance Academy; Encore program; collaborations with Windows on a Wider World, the United Way for a special performance of “The Nutcracker,” and Turn Center, where we offer dance classes for special needs children.

Areas served: All of the Texas Panhandle and the surrounding states Notable milestones: All of our new academies – the continuing additions of repertory, including new and traditional ballets, contemporary works and collaborations with various other art forms.

Plans for the future: Continuing our pursuit of taking the art of dance to as many areas and people as possible Current campaigns: Currently raising funds to replace, update or restyle floors in several of the studios, replace lighting and sound equipment, establish scholarships for students in academies and outreach programs, and to assist in opening new academies and a new touring program.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: Each year, Lone Star Ballet Guild presents The Nutcracker Ball. It is the largest family-oriented formal event in the Tri-State area.

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How to Help

• Donate • Sponsor a performance • Provide gifts for the ballet and dancers 68

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3218 Hobbs Road | 372.2463 | lonestarballet.org

Medical Center League House Year established: November 2010 History: The Medical Center League House began with the passion of Dick Rathgeber, a philanthropist from Austin who spearheaded the development of 10 hospitality houses throughout Texas. Research found that a hospitality house in our community was needed. Night after night, families sleep in waiting rooms to be near critically ill loved ones because they cannot afford the cost of a hotel stay.

After eight years of fundraising, Medical Center League House, a two-story, hotel-like facility opened with its first guests in Fall 2010. This house is a beautiful blessing to the Panhandle, one of which Amarillo can be proud.

Mission: Medical Center League House serves as a home away from home for patients and their families coming to Amarillo for health care treatment. It seeks to provide comfortable and affordable lodging in a caring environment of support and assistance. It is a charitable community project.

Programs and services: Many families from surrounding areas benefit from MCLH. The League House has 31 guest rooms with two queen beds, and a separate communal living room, dining area, kitchen, laundry room, and prayer garden. A nonprofit organization, MCLH relies on contributions and in-kind donations for its operations. A stay is $45 a night, but charitable assistance is available to qualifying guests.

Areas served: The top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle Upcoming fundraisers and events: Be A Blessing program is underway, helping families in a variety of ways; League of Hearts membership drive in February.

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How to Help

• Donations of paper goods, drinks, microwavable items or snacks.

• Monetary donations are needed.

• Spread the word! The League House is here for families during a medical issue.

7000 Amarillo Blvd. West 358.3759 leaguehouse.org

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Opportunity School Year established: 1969 History: Opportunity School celebrates 50 years this year!

Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), we emphasize low children to adult ratios, age-appropriate curriculum and meaningful interactions between children and adults. Since beginning, more than 4,000 children and their families have benefited from Opportunity School.

Mission: The period of 0 to 5 is critically important in providing the foundation for all learning. Our mission states that through high-quality early childhood education and caring family support, Opportunity School equips lowincome children and their families to succeed in school and in life.

Programs and services: Opportunity School provides affordable, high-quality early education, care and parent support to approximately 160 economically disadvantaged children each year through two campusbased programs.

Areas served: We serve children and families throughout Amarillo.

Notable milestones: We are changing the lives of children and their families. Opportunity School partnered with WTAMU to research the impact of Opportunity School on former students who are now 18 years or older. We learned that investing in Opportunity School pays off for the community.

Plans for the future: Amarillo sorely lacks affordable, high-quality care and learning options for many of our community’s most disadvantaged children. We are working hard to help meet this need by expanding services with a new location in Northeast Amarillo in 2020.

Current campaigns: More than 50% of our operating budget is supported by donations. We hope people will choose to invest in early childhood education with their year-end donations.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: Amplify your yearend gift to Opportunity School by donating through the Panhandle Gives campaign, Nov. 25-Dec. 3.

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How to Help

• Gifts of time: Share your talents as office, classroom or library volunteers, guest readers, bus riders, handy helpers for small repairs, teacher appreciation or help with events.

• Annual and Year-End Campaigns: These campaigns give us the opportunity to update donors about the school.

• Planned Gifts: If children and education are your passion, leave a lasting legacy by including Opportunity School in your will or trust.

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opportunityschool.com

Sharing Hope Ministry Year established: 2001 History: In 1999, a women’s group assisted two local incarcerated women by providing a Life Recovery Bible and studies. Requests for help grew and soon jail visitation, prayer groups, and mentoring were added.

Sharing Hope Ministry became a nondenominational nonprofit in 2001 and utilizes volunteers from more than 30 local churches.

Mission: To assist at-risk and incarcerated women in changing their story by Sharing Hope through Christ’s love.

Programs and services: Sharing Hope Ministry sends materials and correspondence to incarcerated women.

Patsy’s Place Transitional Home provides safe shelter and a 12-month, Christ-centered program for recently released women. The Center for Advancement serves any local post-offending women by providing education and resources.

Areas served: The Life Recovery Bible and Bible studies are sent to women in all 50 states. Volunteers work with our area’s incarcerated women, and with women who have been released back into our community.

Notable milestones: More than 150,000 women have received a Life Recovery Bible and studies. Patsy’s Place has equipped 129 post-offending women for re-entry, and the Center for Advancement, in partnership with Amarillo College, is now offering G.E.D. classes.

Plans for the future: We are expanding our services by providing re-entry packets to assist recently released Texas women and will be adding the Spanish Life Recovery Bible. The Center for Advancement will offer an increased amount of services to help at-risk and postoffending women.

Current campaigns: At Patsy’s Place, we are helping women find their mission in life. This year, you have the opportunity to partner with us and continue this amazing work in changing women’s lives! Give to Patsy’s Place during The Panhandle Gives, Nov. 25-Dec. 3.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: Celebrating 20 years of Hope Fest on March 26, 2020.

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How to Help

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Provide financial support Volunteer Teach Mentor Help with fundraisers Join a prayer team

2300 SW Seventh Ave. 358.7803 sharinghopeministry.org

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United Way of Amarillo & Canyon

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Year established: 1924 History: The heritage of our community is deeply rooted in helping those in need. To us, it’s just the right thing to do. That’s why, 95 years ago, community leaders decided this place needed a community chest, later named United Way. Since our inception, we have been working hand-inhand with the community to solve complex problems and provide a better life for our citizens. Through the collective power of the community, we have been providing funds to better our community, honoring the traditions of our forefathers, and supporting needs as they have changed, evolved, and even grown.

Mission: To unite community ideas and resources to fight poverty and create opportunity for all.

Programs and services: At United Way, we fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community. Our goal is to create long-lasting changes by addressing the underlying causes of these problems.

Every year, we allocate funds to programs as vast as the needs of our community. These funds are used by our program providers to fuel the outcomes that better our community. We want to impact lives so that they thrive with income stability, education and health and are independent of charitable and governmental needs.

Areas served: Amarillo and Canyon Current campaigns: Current campaign runs August-March.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: Visit unitedwayama.org for the latest.

How to Help

• United Way of Amarillo & Canyon partners with companies, governments, nonprofits and other organizations to address complex challenges throughout the Amarillo and Canyon communities. Our partners contribute more than money. Their ideas, volunteer power, in-kind support and skills are helping make Amarillo and Canyon a better place to live, work and play. From running corporate campaigns to participating in dialogues about issues in Amarillo and Canyon, UWAC partners are helping change the story for individuals and families across our community. We sincerely appreciate the support! It takes everyone in the community working together to create a brighter future.

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2207 Line Ave. | 376.6359 unitedwayama.org

Amarillo Angels

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Year established: 2017 History: Amarillo Angels was the expansion pilot for Austin Angels. Due to the success of the pilot, there are now chapters of National Angels throughout the U.S. Mission: To walk alongside children in the foster care system, as well as their caretakers, by offering consistent support through intentional giving, relationship building and mentorship.

Programs and services: Love Box Program and Dare to Dream Mentoring Areas served: The Panhandle and South Plains Notable milestones: 1,800-plus children and parents in the foster care system have been served through our programs and events.

Plans for the future: Our goal is for every family that fosters to have a Love Box group and youth in foster care above the age of 11 to have a mentor.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: The Panhandle Gives

How to Help • Start a Love Box Group • Become a mentor • Volunteer at an upcoming event: Christmas party, Entrepreneur Workshop, Fairy Godmother Project, Family Day Camp

2501 Fourth Ave., Canyon 570.2010 amarilloangels.org

Amarillo Area CASA

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How to Help

• Be a CASA Volunteer • Be a monthly supporter • Invite CASA to speak to your business or civic group • Attend an event • Like us on Facebook

Year established: 1994 History: Amarillo CASA is part of a national movement started more than 40 years ago, when a judge decided to learn more about children whose lives were in his hands. He used volunteers to provide information needed to safeguard the children’s best interests, ensuring they were being placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

Mission: Amarillo CASA advocates for children of abuse and neglect through the efforts of trained volunteers, appointed by the court to ensure them a safe, nurturing and permanent environment.

Programs and services: As the state steps in to protect the welfare of the child, the judge appoints a CASA volunteer to make independent, unbiased and informed recommendations to help the judge decide the best for the child.

Areas served: Potter, Randall, Carson, Briscoe, Swisher, Hutchinson and Armstrong Counties Notable milestones: Celebrating 25 years of service!

Plans for the future: A CASA Volunteer for every child who enters the foster care system.

112 SW Eighth Ave., Suite 101 373.2272 pleasebeacasa.org

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Amarillo Area Foundation

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How to Help

• When you support your favorite nonprofit organization by donating to them through The Panhandle Gives campaign, the Amarillo Area Foundation and its sponsors will make your gift go further by providing additional funds to the participating organizations. There are 132 organizations from 18 counties participating in this year’s campaign. We hope to raise $1,000,000 to strengthen our nonprofit community throughout the Panhandle this year for #GivingTuesday, #ThePanhandleGives!

Year established: Amarillo Area Foundation was established in 1957 and began #ThePanhandleGives in 2016 as part of #GivingTuesday.

History: The Amarillo Area Foundation was founded by a remarkable group of individuals who knew that Amarillo working together brought a strength that any one of them working separately could not. Formed as only the second Community Foundation in Texas, AAF developed the Medical Center and transformed health care in this region. The bequest of Don D. Harrington enabled the Foundation to begin making grants and this early health care-focused vision grew into a $250-million organization, having the philanthropic impact of strength, breadth and ingenuity.

Mission: To improve quality of life for Texas Panhandle residents Programs and services: Grants; No Limits No Excuses; Nonprofit Service Center; ACE Scholarship Program; THRIVE Scholarship Program; General Scholarship Funds; Donor-Advised Funds; Women’s Philanthropy Fund; The Panhandle Gives Areas served: All 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle Notable milestones: Serving the Panhandle for 61 years.

Plans for the future: To continue to be the philanthropic leader in the Texas Panhandle Current campaigns: The Panhandle Gives Upcoming fundraisers and events: The Panhandle Gives: Nov. 25- Dec. 3 at thepanhandlegives.org

801 S. Fillmore St., Suite 700 376.4521 amarilloareafoundation.org

Hope Choice

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How to Help • • • •

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Become a Mentor Become a volunteer Become a prayer partner Donate

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Year established: 1988 History: The center operated under the name of Amarillo Area Crisis Pregnancy Center from 1988 to 1999, and CareNet Pregnancy Centers from 1999 to 2019.

A name change to Hope Choice Pregnancy Centers and Mentoring Programs in 2019 reflected the ministry’s emphasis on impacting families who are facing the pressures of our culture and are seeking solid answers. Today, we have the highest honor of standing in the gap with 1,000-plus clients every month, providing muchneeded services, such as sonograms, educational classes, post-abortion support, and material goods.

Programs and services: Pregnancy Center; Mentoring Programs for teens and preteens; School Programs Areas served: Three locations – 6709 Woodward and 1501 S. Taylor in Amarillo, and 1712 Second Ave. in Canyon. Hope Choice’s #reach4greatness program impacts students on 88 campuses (and growing) in the Panhandle area, including Amarillo, Canyon, Bushland, Wildorado, Claude and Nazareth.

Plans for the future: #reach4greatness and LEAD Council programs will be expanding into additional schools.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: Fundraising Banquet, Feb. 18, 2020, Amarillo Civic Center

6709 Woodward St. 354.2244 thehopechoice.com

High Plains Food Bank

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How to Help • Donate online at hpfb.org/donate. For every $1 donated, $.96 cents goes directly to food and feeding programs, allowing us to provide four meals to local neighbors in need.

Year established: 1982 History: In 1982, a group of community leaders saw a need and founded the High Plains Food Bank in response.

Mission: To alleviate hunger in the Texas Panhandle where 1 in 7, including 1 in 5 kids, face food insecurity.

Programs and services: High Plains Food Bank supplies food to 190 feeding partners, primarily food pantries. We also operate programs to provide food and stability, including Kids Cafe, CSFP, SNAP application assistance, Mobile Harvest, and more.

Areas served: Top 29 Texas Panhandle Counties Notable milestones: In 2018, HPFB distributed 8.25 million pounds of food, serving 8,700 families monthly. One-third of that distribution included fresh, healthy produce!

Plans for the future: Continued increase in protein and produce distribution. Partnerships that combat the root issues of hunger.

Current campaigns: The Panhandle Gives; HPFB Christmas Ornaments; United, Market Street and Amigos Scan Tag Campaign, Nov. 22-Dec. 8; Wells Fargo Campaign, Nov. 1-Dec. 31 Upcoming fundraisers and events: Together We Can Holiday Food & Fund Drive, Dec. 2-7, Market Street; AISD Empty Bowls, Feb. 14, 2020

815 Ross St. | 374.8562 hpfb.org

Mission 2540

> How to Help • Donate • Volunteer weekly or monthly • Help purchase gifts for our Christmas Outreach. Details available at mission2540.org

Year established: 2004 History: Mission 2540 was founded by Brooks Boyett in November 2004. We started in two affordable apartment communities in North Amarillo, and have expanded to seven communities throughout Amarillo and one in Lubbock.

Mission: We work with families living in low-income apartment communities, meeting their physical, spiritual and emotional needs. Inspired by Matthew 25:40, our desire is to “Feed, Clothe, and Love” our neighbors in need.

Programs and services: Weekly after-school activities for kids – Bible studies, games, crafts, tutoring, etc.; benevolence program assisting residents with bills, rent groceries, etc.; annual outreaches assisting with school supplies, Christmas gifts, and Easter meals; summer programs and camp Areas served: North Grand Villas, Cathy’s Pointe, Cypress Creek, Glenwood Apartments, Plum Creek Apartments, Spring Terrace, Ridgecrest Apartments in Amarillo. Cantibury Pointe in Lubbock.

Notable milestones: Nov. 30 will mark our 15th anniversary Plans for the future: Continue impacting lives in our apartment communities and look for new opportunities to expand to other locations.

Upcoming fundraisers and events: We will celebrate 15 years of ministry on Tuesday, Dec. 3, with a Celebration Dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the Skyline Conference Room of ANB Plaza 1. Email brooks@ mission2540.org for more information or to RSVP.

P O Box 20771 | 681.6334 mission2540.org

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