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PACERS FOUNDATION GIVING TOPPLES $700,000 IN 2008
Indianapolis (February 5, 2009) - Through grants across Indiana to over 40 organizations, annual scholarship awards and a $500,000 commitment to Common Goal, an initiative spearheaded by the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the Pacers Foundation, Inc., eclipsed more than $700,000 in giving in 2008, according to Pacers Foundation Executive Director Jami Marsh.
In making the gift to Common Goal, the Foundation “challenged” the Chamber of Commerce and the community at-large to match the donation and bring the total community investment to at least $1 million. Matching donations by local businesses exceeded that goal by December.
“I’m proud of what we accomplished in 2008, but the organizations we support and the kids they serve are really doing the hard work,” said Marsh. “I’m glad we’re able to provide the resources and partner with them, as they strive to make winning life choices.”
The Pacers Foundation’s funding priorities include: education, substance abuse, childhood obesity, anti-bullying and issues specific to adolescent and teenage girls. Since September, the Pacers Foundation awarded over $100,000 in grants to youth-serving organizations across Indiana, including to the Indianapolis-based Fathers & Families Center.
“With help from the Pacers Foundation, Fathers and Families Center will be able to provide transportation assistance to young parents, mainly fathers, who are working hard to ‘do the right thing’ by continuing their education,” said Fathers and Families Center Chief Operating Officer Robert J. Ripperger. “In these tough economic times, the Pacers Foundation’s financial support is critical in helping to sustain our participants while they work on areas in their lives that have been neglected, sometimes since childhood or when they dropped out of school. Those who come to the Center do so voluntarily, and it is gratifying to witness their desire to be good parents and to make positive life changes for their own benefit, and for that of their children.”
A charitable arm of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the Pacers Foundation has given millions of dollars via grants, community partnerships, scholarships and tickets to Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever games. The Foundation’s mission is to encourage Indiana’s youth in making winning life choices. For more information visit www.pacersfoundation.org.
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