From press release:
The Go Local Card program is an amazing collaboration that raises funds for local public education and builds awareness of supporting local independent businesses in Asheville. This year, the Asheville City Schools Foundation (ACSF) and the Asheville Grown Business Alliance (AGBA) have decided to reorganize the structure of the Go Local Card to serve our Asheville City Schools and local independent businesses more effectively.
AGBA will assume the full responsibility of administering the 2015 Go Local Card program. Our local schools and businesses will still continue to see benefits of this community wide fundraiser. Investing in the future of Asheville’s children to build a strong and vibrant community is a priority for this program.
Franzi Charen, the leader of AGBA, and founder of the grassroots “Love Asheville – Go Local” movement shares, “To reduce overall administrative costs and better serve local independent businesses, AGBA will take over the management of the distribution of funds to participating public schools.”
The ACSF is incredibly proud of the idea collaboratively created by former Co-Director Leah Ferguson and Charen and, in 2013, honored them as “Champions” at the foundation’s annual signature event, The Celebration of Champions.
Over the last three years, the Go Local Card program has raised over $34,000 to benefit local school programs. “The Go Local Card program has been a powerful example of community connecting and support.We are grateful for Franzi’s hard work and all of the local businesses who have flocked to the card in support of our local schools. Equally humbling have been the number of community members who have purchased the cards”, says Kate Pett, Executive Director of ACSF.
The powerful spirit of giving thrives in Asheville and both partners ask for the continued support of the community as we move forward.
Be on the lookout for the launch of Asheville Grown’s brand new website coming this fall! In September, AGBA will begin to renew current Go Local Card partners and take on new businesses for the 2015 card.
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