YOU Receives $4,000 Pop Up Giving Donation
Kalamazoo RESA’s Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) was voted as the recipient of a more than $4,000 donation through the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region’s Pop Up Giving (PUG) event on Tuesday, March 27.
PUG, an event which allows several organizations, YOU and the Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services and Ministry with Community, to pitch their financial stability programs, as well how they would use the additional funding from PUG to support that mission.
YOU will use the donation to support students participating in the MyCITY summer youth employment program, which provides local youth with an opportunity to earn a working wage while they learn valuable work skills, financial literacy, career training and much more.
“We are very thankful for the community support that we’ve received and very excited that together we are able to prepare youth for careers in the local area. It is truly a win for our youth, the local businesses and our community,” said Karen Carlisle, YOU Director.
Those in attendance of the event are charged an admission fee, which is pooled to make up the donation. Attendees are then asked to vote for an organization and the one with the most votes wins the cash prize. At this particular PUG event, Rose Street Advisors of Kalamazoo generously offered to match the money raised, doubling the donation.
“Pop Up Giving was a fun and interactive way to learn about programs and services available in our local area. It provided a connection to services and support, and served as a reminder that our community truly cares about each other and wants to help our area thrive,” said Carlisle. “Thank you to the United Way and Rose Street Advisors for the opportunity to participate and for supporting our youth!”