Lincoln, NE., July 17, 2012 - Neighbors and volunteers, skateboarders and musicians will gather at Hanscom Park Saturday to celebrate two local groups that rocked the vote and brought home money to improve their communities.
Skate for Change of Lincoln and Omaha and the Park Avenue Commons of Omaha (a project of inCOMMON Community Development) each has won a $25,000 grant. They were among 3,000 submissions State Farm received through Cause An Effect, a crowd-sourced philanthropic initiative benefiting non-profit organizations creating solutions to community issues.
From April 27 to May 17, people who use Facebook were asked to visit the Cause An Effect application and vote for the 100 finalist causes competing for a grant. More than 38,000 people cast more than 1.2 million votes. In the end, Skate for Change came in first with 67,252 votes. The Park Avenue Community Center ranked sixth, with 31,937 votes.
The party to recognize their success kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at Hanscom Park at South 32nd and Woolworth and will feature local bands and family activities, a youth skate competition and State Farm handing over the winning groups' checks. Localmotive food truck will be serving from 2 – 4 p.m.
Saturday's celebration is designed to thank all the grassroots supporters who helped each of these causes achieve success. The party also will be a great opportunity to raise the causes' profiles in their communities.
Skate for Change is a group of local skateboarders determined to give back to their community. They ride around in Omaha and Lincoln with backpacks handing out food, water, socks, toothpaste and other necessities to the homeless and less fortunate in the area. Skate for Change will use its $25,000 to expand the program.
The Park Avenue Commons in Omaha is being developed by inCOMMON Community Development, a nonprofit working to alleviate poverty by uniting and strengthening vulnerable neighborhoods. The Commons will be comprised of nonprofits organized by inCOMMON to help the community. The $25,000 will launch the capital campaign for the new Park Avenue Commons located at Park Avenue and Woolworth.
For more information about Cause An Effect, visit the State Farm Newsroom.
Ann Avery, Media Inquiries, (402) 327-4551
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