Our Charity Event for 2017

Each year, as you know, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Wine Society dedicates one tasting to a charitable cause.  This year, we considered several, including the Oenocenosillicaphobics Anonymous, the Winemaker’s Overseas Aid fund (I’m a winemaker, I want to go overseas, and I need aid), and many others.  We chose, however, to support Fund It Forward.

Before our dinner on October 11, we will have a brief presentation about this wonderful organization, and you will have the opportunity to see some of their products at the tasting.  Representatives will be there to explain what they do, who they help, and why you should donate.  Please, take a few moments and visit their website.  The link is at the end of this post.

Fund It Forward is a fundraising based non-profit that partners together with families and holds small scale fundraisers to raise money towards their request. The request must be a medical device that is not covered by insurance (families do need a denial letter from insurance before we can begin the process).

Once the device is confirmed, along with the pricing - that's where the fun begins! The family will determine what type of fundraiser they will do. There have been fundraisers put together as golf outings that generated well beyond the goal - and there have been Pizza-Hut donation dinner fundraisers. Families are encouraged to fundraise within their comfort zone, as it can be overwhelming.

At the same time, Fund it Forward is consistently holding fundraisers throughout the year. The family is responsible to raise at least 50% of their goal, and Fund it Forward will donate the other portion, through their efforts. Once the monetary goal is raised, the request is submitted to the board for approval, and then the item is ordered and shipped to the family.

Mission and Vision

Fund It Forward's mission is to ease the burdens of families with children with special needs by raising money for adaptive medical equipment not covered by insurance.

Fund It Forward’s vision is to build bridges within the vast community by enabling families to reach beyond their own circumstances and into the lives of others to build a community of compassion, empathy, and advocacy.

Families often hold fundraisers on a much smaller scale to help raise money for expensive medical devices not covered by health insurance. By fundraising under Fund It Forward, individuals unite behind a common purpose so the money raised has a greater opportunity to benefit a large community of people with similar circumstances and needs. Volunteers also help to raise community awareness for both our organization and children with various special needs diagnoses.

http://www.funditfwd.org/