It's A Great Day to Give!

Since 2008, A Giving Spirit Foundation has awarded over $50,000 in grants to mothers in the greater Charlotte, NC  area suffering from a debilitating disease. These grants have provided shelter to the families by paying months of rent or mortgage, allowed the lights to stay on, made homes handicapped accessible and purchased medical equipment.

Here are just a few of those stories:

Ms. Y. was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy.  A single mother of 4 children, Ms. Y was physically unable to work for 8 weeks during her treatment and fell behind in her rent and utility payments.  AGSF paid her rent and utilities until she was able to return to work.   

Mrs. J is 42 to years old and the mother of 6 (ages 2 - 16). She was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma and her 16 yr old daughter has also recently been diagnosed with cancer. AGSF responded to her grant request and have provided two months of mortgage assistance.

Mrs. W was diagnosed with ALS and needed a new bed with automatic back and leg recline features that will help with swallowing and breathing while she's in bed. AGSF responded to her grant request and paid for the new bed system.

Mrs. U was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and lung cancer in 2012. Her husband is unable to work due to the time commitment to support and care for his wife and daughter. AGSF responded to their grant request and provided 2 months of rent assistance.

Any day is a good day to give a donation to A Giving Spirit Foundation.  You can be assured that your donations go directly to women like those described above or to organizations doing great work searching for a cure for ALS.   

Donate now securely by credit card by clicking the Donate button in the upper right corner.  Or, mail a check to:

A Giving Spirit Foundation
PO Box 815
Davidson, NC  28036

Matching Gift ProgramMany corporations allow their employees to increase the value of their donations to charitable and other organizations through a matching gift from the company.  Please consider checking with your employer to see if they have a matching gift program when making your gift to A Giving Spirit Foundation.

A Giving Spirit Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Don't forget, stay up to date with A Giving Spirit Foundation by "liking" us on Facebook! 

Giving Where It's Needed

This time of year it's easy to lose sight of the basics when it comes to gift giving. A Giving Spirit Foundation helps families who just need to pay the power bill, buy groceries and/or pay the rent but can't because their money is going toward surgeries or other necessities due to their health situation.

Here are just a few of the wonderful responses AGSF hears when a grant is approved:

"God will bless people like you in special ways for helping people like me"

"You are the bright light in an otherwise grim and terribly stressful time."

"You have helped make my patients feel like they are somebody worthy of attention and compassion, something that is so often so hard for them to find."

"You have definitely changed a life with this gift."

"Thank You! [She] will now be able to remain in her home!"


Let's continue to help the people who need helping this holiday season - you can do your part by making a donation to A Giving Spirit Foundation.

An Open Letter

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your support over the years for Laura’s League and A Giving Spirit Foundation.  We thought it important to give you an update as to what we’ve been up to and where we’re going.

Four short years ago, Laura Somerville Woodall was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease which falls under the realm of ALS. Upon hearing this news, most people asked “What’s ALS?” Laura jumped into action with the intent to educate others about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and raise funds toward a cure. First step? Gather 25 friends and form “Laura’s League” and, in her words, “make some difference in the lives of those living with ALS.” 

The League’s first effort raised over $100,000 for the 2007 MDA Stride N Ride.  The original goal was just $25,000 but we found out what could happen when the group banded together and reached out to our generous networks of friends and family.  This made the Woodalls realize that much more could be done to support the tens of thousands living with ALS and other debilitating diseases.

With that thought in mind, and under the leadership of Jim Strodel and Chris Bryant, A Giving Spirit Foundation (AGSF) was formed in October 2008 to help others experiencing adversity in the face of an unforeseen health challenge.  Money raised by AGSF will go toward awarding financial support and assistance to needy and deserving individuals and families suffering from a debilitating disease.  We also plan to continue to support research organizations working toward a cure for ALS, such as the ALS division of MDA and Project ALS.

Since formed, AGSF has awarded over $11,000 in grants to individuals and research organizations.  Nancy Brown of Davidson, NC received a grant earlier this year to help her family of six in the midst of financial issues brought on by three devastating diagnoses .  In 1998 her daughter was born with spinabifida.  Her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2004.  Several years later, Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer.    

“We've always managed to keep up with, if not ahead of, our medical issues until this last event,” Nancy explains. “A Giving Spirit Foundation reached out to us at a time that couldn't have been more perfect.  We were hard pressed to make the mortgage after a few months and didn't know where to turn for help.  That gift relieved the stress we were under and gave us breathing room to figure out the finances, to locate help. It may not have seemed like much, but when your choices are deciding whether to move or how to afford to feed a family of 6 on $100 a month, it was priceless.”

Nancy’s story exemplifies why AGSF works hard to raise funds and provide grants to families in their time of need. If you know of any family experiencing financial difficulties due to a debilitating disease, please contact us and request a grant application.

AGSF has spent much of the last two years organizing and sorting out the

details of starting a non-profit. We’re energized and ready to move forward in our fight against ALS.  We’re focused on fulfilling the mission of raising awareness of this disease, helping fund research for a cure and helping others facing long term health adversities by awarding financial support to qualified grant applicants. 

All the while, we pledge to never lose sight of the guiding vision of Laura Woodall. She and her family provide daily inspiration to all who witness their courage and hope as they face a life with ALS.

Thank you again for your past support and we hope you will continue to support us in whatever manner you choose. 

Sincerely,

The AGSF Board of Trustees

P.S.  Did you know that you can donate at any time by going to www.agivingspirit.org?  Click on the gold Donate button in the upper left corner to donate securely.  Or, send a check made out to A Giving Spirit Foundation to the address above.

Save the Date:

AGSF’s annual fundraiser

will be held on

Saturday, Oct. 23^rd.