Dear SWAG members, supporters, and partners,
We wanted to update you and share our year-end letter letting you know all the things SWAG has been working on this year. We also want to share our hopes for next year as we work to expand our decade long journey to provide resources and opportunities for SWAG families, as well as children all across Alachua County.
Our mission is to bring about lasting, positive impacts in the lives of our friends and neighbors. Because of your generous support, SWAG has been able to do more than ever with your donation.
In a couple of short months, we will mark 10 years from the day in February of 2010 when nine women gathered at Tower Road Library to identify needs in the community and begin the necessary work to bring the resources needed to address those needs. At this meeting in 2010, SWAG was born, and over the next decade, together with our community partners, we have renovated and opened the SWAG Family Resource Center, renovated and opened the SW Health & Dental Clinic, and raised the funds to build the beautiful new CHILD Center.
The heart of what we do – the programs at the SWAG Family Resource Center and the SW Health & Dental Clinic – cannot happen without ongoing funding. That’s where you come in. Programming is funded 100% through grants and the donations and contributions of partner agencies and individuals like you. Partnership for Strong Families operates the Resource Center, and the Alachua County Health Department operates the clinic. Both organizations provide operational funds to cover the cost of things like our fantastic staff, copy machines, utilities, and more. These agencies, however, are not able to provide funding for the day-to-day programming that makes our centers such an integral part of the community.
Since opening our Resource Center in 2012, we have had over 85,000 visits (over 12,000 visits each year). With our growth, we continue to expand programming, which includes our after-school enrichment/tutoring program, our monthly community dinners (we had 76 people at our dinner just last week), our annual back-to-school bash where we give away nearly 300 backpacks filled with school supplies, and our special holiday parties where we give each of our after-school children a STEM gift. Our Capoeira program (Brazilian Martial Arts) for our older elementary school-aged children is more popular than ever, and this year we have added yoga for children and adults, which is very popular, as well. We also hold mental health fairs for children and their parents, a fall festival, and more. All our events are designed to strengthen and support families. This year, we are working on expanding our programs for our seniors and our high school youth.
SWAG asks that you consider donating by sending a check to SWAG c/o SWAG Family Resource Center, 807 SW 64th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32607, or by donating on-line at https://www.mightycause.com/story/Swag. Your help is more than a simple donation. Together, we are working to positively impact the lives of children, families and seniors right here in our own community. We look forward to collaborating with you today and tomorrow as we continue to bring new and exciting opportunities and resources to the SWAG communities. Thank you for your support and trust. We’ll continue to work hard to make sure we earn and keep it.
Thank you for your support! SWAG sends you and yours all the best this holiday season!
IMPORTANT: The SW Advocacy Group is an exempt organization as described in 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions were made for the benefit of SWAG, and no gratuities or gifts of any sort were given to donors. In accordance with Chapter 496, Florida Statutes, the Solicitations of Contributions Act, the following information is provided: SW ADVOCACY GROUP (SWAG), Registration #CH33050. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7362 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
