A local nonprofit that helps homeless children and families announced Thursday that it had busted past its fundraising goals, bringing in $2.17 million over the course of a six-week campaign. The target was $1.5 million.
Mary’s Place plans to use the money raised during the No Child Sleeps Outside campaign to get 800 people into shelter and another 300 families into stable housing. The celebration was themed after the Wizard of Oz, a motif that featured heavily in each detail from the volunteers’ shirts — sporting a pair of ruby slippers — to Executive Director Marty Hartman’s speech.
“You have the heart, you have the brains, you have the courage to stand up and say no child should sleep outside,” Hartman said to applause.
JJ McKay, the organization’s board president, closed the event on a hopeful note.
“We love you like family,” McKay said. “Together, we’re going to solve this.”
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Ashley Archibald is a Staff Reporter covering local government, policy and equity. Have a story idea? She can be can reached at ashleya (at) realchangenews (dot) org. Twitter @AshleyA_RC
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