This year, Housing Assistance is kicking off its 18th Annual Telethon for Hope with the 12 Days of Giving campaign, providing multiple opportunities for people to help their neighbors with housing this holiday season.
“Over the past year, our agency has witnessed more households seeking financial assistance in order to stay stably housed. Since July to the middle of November, we’ve awarded over $2 million that has prevented nearly 340 of our neighbors from becoming homeless,” said Housing Assistance Chief Development Officer Anne Van Vleck. “By participating in this year’s telethon, people can make a meaningful impact by supporting our housing efforts and ensuring our neighbors can get the services they need to access safe, stable housing this holiday season.”
The easiest way for people to make an impact is by donating to Housing Assistance or one of the volunteer fundraising teams already listed by clicking the button below. All funds raised will go to support Housing Assistance’s programs which prevent homelessness, stabilize housing, and empower households to achieve self-sufficiency and move towards homeownership in our region.
With 30 people and seven fundraising teams having already registered, Housing Assistance is working towards its $100,000 fundraising goal for the telethon. There’s still time for new people to sign up to become a telethon fundraiser by setting up a simple online form they can share with their friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors. Registering to become a fundraiser is also done at www.telethonforhope.org.
Starting Monday, November 29 on Housing Assistance’s Facebook page, the organization will highlight the impact that giving has on addressing the region’s housing crisis and share video interviews from regional leaders about why the need for safe, stable housing is critical to strengthening families, neighborhoods, and our community.
The event will conclude with a live broadcast on Friday, December 10 at 6 pm on Housing Assistance’s YouTube channel and on local cable access channels 98 and 99.
Housing Assistance is offering three simple ways for people to get involved in this year’s telethon – Give 12, Ask 12, and Share 12.
- Give 12 – By giving a one-time donation of $12, people can make a real difference for real people in our community. That small amount can make a huge difference by getting a homeless individual to a critical service appointment. People can make an even greater impact by giving a recurring monthly donation of $12 ($144 annually) which will secure a night of shelter for a homeless mother and her child.
- Share 12 – Once people have donated to this year’s telethon, they can raise awareness to the need for safe, stable housing on Cape Cod and the Islands, by sharing their commitment to Housing Assistance’s work on social media with 12 friends and using the hashtag #HACTelethon21.
- Ask 12 – Anyone who registers as a Telethon for Hope fundraiser is encouraged to ask at least 12 of their friends, family members, or colleagues to support them in their fundraising endeavors.
There are incentives for fundraisers who reach certain thresholds, including a Telethon for Hope commemorative pin and a Telethon for Hope Santa hat, as well as a traveling trophy for the Top Individual Fundraiser and Top Team Fundraiser.
The event is an ideal team-building event for community groups, school groups, faith-based organizations, and businesses that want to embrace the spirit of the holiday season. Among teams already registered are ones from Mid-Cape Home Centers, First Citizens Federal Credit Union, and friends of Housing Assistance Board member Ronald Winner of Hyannis.
The Mid-Cape Home Centers fundraising team, all decked out for our 12 Days of Giving and Telethon for Hope.
“I’ve personally seen the positive impact that Housing Assistance’s work has in our community and I love raising funds for them to advance their initiatives,” said Mid-Cape Home Centers Learning and Development Manager Leah Fennell. “The team at Housing Assistance spends tireless hours educating our community on the housing affordability crisis and it’s only getting worse.”
Housing Assistance Board Member Dr. Kumara Sidhartha, an Internist and Medical Director at Cape Cod Healthcare, is also participating in this year’s telethon as a fundraiser. “This event is the perfect opportunity for people, at the end of the year and during the holidays, to embrace the spirit of giving and reflect on the gratitude for what they have in their life and consider others who aren’t as fortunate,” he said.
Along with fundraisers and donors, Housing Assistance is seeking sponsors for this year’s Telethon for Hope. Businesses interested in learning more about becoming an event sponsor should contact Deanna Bussiere at dbussiere@haconcapecod.org.
Current sponsors include the Cape Media Center, Bass River Pediatric Associates, PSD Fund for Working Families, the William and Linda Zammer Foundation, CapeBuilt, Sullivan & Sullivan Auctioneers, Consistently Clean, the Law Office of Singer & Singer, LLC, Starbuck Construction Services, Doyle Construction Corporation, the Law Office of Eugene R. Curry, R.J. Franey Mechanical Services, The Valle Group, Cape Cod Insulation, Catania Hospitality Group, iKitchens, Etc., Ready Rooter, Rusty’s Inc., Sunderland Printing, Union Studio Architecture Community Design, and Green Spot Garden Center as well as Housing Assistance’s Annual Corporate Sponsors, Cape Cod Five Foundation; Shepley Wood Products Inc.; Bayside Building, Inc.; Cape Save; Dellbrook|JKS; Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation; Sullivan & Sullivan Auctioneers; the William & Linda Zammer Foundation; Chatham Wayside Inn; First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union; Mid-Cape Home Centers; The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod; Princi Mills Law PC; RogersGray; Ira Toyota of Hyannis; and TrimBoard.
