“I think this is a neat and creative way to get people involved,” Casey Cockerham, executive director of the Nehemiah Foundation said. “We like the idea of trying to support local businesses as well as trying to have people raise awareness for what we’re doing.”
Nehemiah Foundation director of operations Jenna Potts said the UnGala was going to be a couple of weeks earlier, but the pandemic moved it back.
“The timing was odd and not intentional, it just worked out,” said Potts. “One of the things we liked about it is instead of having to get a babysitter for the night or buy clothes to go to an event, you can stay at home and still have fun and support local businesses.”
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The goal was to raise $10,000, but Cockerham explained that setting a goal for something they had never done before was difficult.
“We wanted something to aim at and outside of being able to do what we typically do in person, we still are really pleased with the outcome,” Cockerham said.
Buckeye Sports Lodge offered 15 percent of customers’ carryout purchases to go back to the Nehemiah Foundation if they showed the UnGala logo during the fundraiser.
Cockerham said they do not know how much was raised from Buckeye Sports Lodge, but he knows “they were pretty overwhelmed with business - which is awesome.”
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If the Nehemiah Foundation decides to host another UnGala, Cockerham hopes to get more people involved through social media.
“One of our hopes was that we could get people engaged and posting pictures online with a hashtag,” Cockerham said. “We would like to increase engagement on social media, so people can have fun with it and share how they are supporting the community.”
The Nehemiah Foundation is supporting different efforts during the coronavirus pandemic like helping people in the community without food and supporting people who can not leave their homes.
Cockerham said he would like to thank the community - “it seems like everybody is coming together and doing what they can to help out.”
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