The Bridges Foundation

Thank you for considering a donation or sponsorship of an individual, program or service offered by The Bridges Foundation.  Whether your donation is monetary, volunteering of your time or expertise, or offering items of need, at whatever level of giving your support helps!  Any and all offerings are greatly appreciated; here are some specific ways you can make a difference:

Total expenditures for a full year of Foundation activities in 2007 ran to $99,500.  Plans for 2008 include expanding of our Arts and Athletics activities to more than double that which is presently offered, and the launch of our new L-oma Store where we will sell not only our buckwheat pillow items but also items of use to persons with autism.  Weighted blankets and vests filled with buckwheat, teaching resources in book, CD and DVD format, and other tools, toys and equipment of support to persons with disabilities will be available.  The projected expenses for 2008 as a result are rising to $250,000.  Fundraising activities by the Foundation are anticipated to cover $100,000 of this amount, with donations and sponsorship covering the remainder.  

The Arts are heavily supported by the Foundation, and the individuals that volunteer their leadership in these activities.  Art and music therapy have comprised annual costs of around $3000; donations of $50 to sponsor individual clients for a full year of therapeutic recreation opportunities are appreciated.  The Foundation leads an annual Children’s Music Festival each year and this event yields both therapeutic and fundraising opportunities, and we seek sponsors to provide the funding for the major performing artists who appear, whose fees are typically in the $2000 range (for example Rick Charrette at this year’s event).

The Foundation engages in a variety of other fundraising efforts throughout the year, both big and small.  Our Annual Bridges Foundation Walk each spring has raised approximately $10,000 with each of our clients sponsored for roughly $100 apiece.  You can sponsor one of our clients to walk and/or even walk with them on the day itself.  Sales of fundraising items such as cookbooks, and smaller efforts such as car washes, bake sales and bottle drives also make an impact.

A golf tournament is planned for 2009, and your sponsorship of a team for this event would be greatly helpful in our launch.  You can partner with a team and sponsor their entry fees for $1200.     

The Foundation supports individuals and teams in Maine’s Special Olympics participation and major recreation events (for example basketball game for Special Olympics team to play fundraising game at the Boston Garden with the Celtics).  Athletic activities have currently cost $7500 annually; a gift of even $300 can sponsor an individual for a year of activity.

Both L-oma and the Foundation currently invest in promotional activities for increased visibility and community awareness for both L-oma and the Foundation on a variety of media.  Current expenditures for the past year of $4000 also paid for attendance fees at conferences, fairs and craft shows where we sell our products (and our consumers attend).  The greater our audience and the greater awareness exists of the work that is being done, the greater the work for our clients.

Gifts of individual or business products for use as online auction items or direct donations to or for persons in need are also greatly appreciated!  You may also donate your time and participation in our Walks, Tournaments, Auctions, and other fundraising events.

Lastly, shopping at our online buckwheat pillow store helps create more work for our employees and spreads the word about the value and quality of our products!