Did you know that every coin dropped into a parking meter and every paid parking ticket at Easton helps fund local charities? Each year over the past 20 years, Easton Town Center and the Easton Community Foundation have selected six youth and family-focused organizations to partner with as part of its annual Change for Charity Meter Program. The program, which uses proceeds from parking meters and parking tickets at Easton to support local charities, has raised more than $1.4 million since its establishment in 1999.
As part of this important annual tradition, we’re pleased to announce Easton’s 2019 Change for Charity recipients:
- The Center for Family Safety and Healing (January/February)
- Harmony Project (March/April)
- ROX – Ruling our eXperiences, Inc. (May/June)
- Furniture Bank of Central Ohio (July/August)
- Homeport (September/October)
- KIPP Columbus (November/December)
Each partner will be featured on property over a two-month period, in which they will receive donations through Easton’s parking meter proceeds, along with in-kind marketing and publicity opportunities that reach more than 28 million visitors annually. Visitors can also use the QR codes located on the second level of the Easton Station building, making it easier than ever to donate and learn more about Easton’s Change for Charity partners.
It’s our goal at Easton to support and recognize organizations that are making a significant impact in our community, and central Ohio as a whole. We are fortunate enough to be able to do so not only through providing financial support but also by helping to raise awareness through unique opportunities that educate community members on what important work these organizations do. Our guests truly appreciate learning about these partners. Whether it’s through learning about empowering girls with ROX, or being inspired to raise their voice with Harmony Project, we are truly honored to be able to connect our guests with these incredible organizations.
While Change for Charity provides a unique opportunity for six select organizations, we are dedicated to working with the community and creating accessible opportunities to benefit the many incredible organizations Columbus has to offer all year round. To us, these organizations are more than just community members, they help serve the people who visit, shop and dine here at Easton.
Want to learn more about Easton’s 2019 Change for Charity partners? Here are some details about each organization:
The Center for Family Safety and Healing (January/February):
The Center for Family Safety and Healing fully addresses all aspects of family violence, including child abuse and neglect, teen dating abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse, thanks to an impressive combination of public and private resources. The Center for Family Safety and Healing aspires to break the cycle of violence through the advocacy, prevention, intervention, treatment and research of family violence by integrating comprehensive services through community interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based practices.
Harmony Project (March/April):
Harmony Project connects people across social, cultural, and geographic divides through the arts, education, and volunteer community service. Working together, we are building a united community and connecting through the shared vision of a world where indifference is replaced with empathy, intolerance is replaced with kindness, and discord is replaced with harmony. Since 2009, thousands of people representing every dimension of diversity have participated in a Harmony Project program or performance, or by giving back to the community through volunteer service.
ROX – Ruling our eXperiences, Inc. (May/June)
ROX is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is the emerging national leader in programming, research and education focused on girls. Their mission is to create generations of confident girls who control their own relationships, experiences, decisions and futures. ROX utilizes research and evidence-based programming to simultaneously impact girls, educate and support the adult influencers in girls’ lives and improve the societal conditions that have the potential to negatively impact girls.
Furniture Bank of Central Ohio (July/August):
The mission of Furniture Bank of Central Ohio is to reduce the impact of poverty by providing furniture and other household essentials to central Ohio individuals and families struggling with severe life challenges such as homelessness, domestic violence, unemployment, disabilities and health issues. They work closely with 75 agency partners who identify, screen and refer individuals and families in need of beds, kitchen tables, sofas, and other household goods that turn their empty house into a home of hope.
Homeport (September/October):
Homeport, named a Columbus Foundation “Five Nonprofits to Watch” in 2017, is the largest local provider of affordable housing in Central Ohio, with a mission to create strong communities by developing quality, affordable homes on a cornerstone of dignity, security and opportunity. They develop affordable housing and comprehensive support for over 6,200 residents who live in Homeport’s communities.
KIPP Columbus (November/December):
KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment college preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently serves over 1,100 students in grades K-3 and 5-9 at a new campus built on the grounds of a former golf course in Northeast Columbus. By 2020, KIPP Columbus will serve nearly 2,000 students in grades K-12. With a mission to create and sustain the highest quality school system for the children most underserved in Columbus, KIPP has maintained excellence in its growth and will improve upon that standard – proving what is possible in public education.
Since its debut, the Easton Community Foundation has provided nearly $7 million in financial support to hundreds of organizations that strengthen the central Ohio community through services and programming in the areas of education, health and social services. Its primary community-focused initiatives – in addition to the Change for Charity program – include cornerstone event fundraisers for some of central Ohio’s most respected charities, the Easton Community Foundation Scholarships for area high school students at schools including Mifflin High School, Northland High School, Fort Hayes High School, Gahanna Lincoln High School, Linden-McKinley High School and Columbus Africentric and events and partnerships benefiting the community, and local organizations.