Last year, Manitowoc’s Ascend Services held their first-ever Throw with All Your Heart fundraiser, and it was a huge success.
Executive Director Deana Genske told SeehaferNews.com that they raised roughly $10,000 from that fundraiser, and they look to repeat that success this year.
We also spoke with Kelsey Lueptow, the Fund Development Coordinator at Ascend, who explained that they had to change their approach this year. “Last year it was packed. It was such a hit.” Kelsey said. “We look back on those pictures now as we are planning and pivoting, and we just knew we couldn’t host an onsite event.”
So they came up with a way to still host the event, while also keeping everyone safe. “We are putting together little party packs we call Lumberjack Packs. You can either donate to a certain level ($100, $250, or $500) or you can fundraise,” she explained.
“We have a page set up at AscendServicesInc.org. All you do is click Start Fundraiser, and everything is prepopulated and you kinda just click through. Then you just share the link with friends on Facebook, email, anything like that.”
The “Lumberjack Packs” will include items such as Velcro ax-throwing game, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, fun masks, and other items.
As for where the money will go, Deana explained, “We are going to be talking and putting all of this money right back into all of our services. During COVID we haven’t seen a lot of people we serve, so we have changed a lot of our services. We are bringing services home to people, just so we are staying in touch and meeting people where they need to be met.”
Both Kelsey and Deana voiced their excitement for this year’s event, but both also said they are looking forward to being able to host the in-person iteration again.
