Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF) and several participating retailers will celebrate the spirit of the holiday season with the Downtown Gives charity program. Downtown Gives is a collaborative effort of Downtown business owners giving back to local charities.
This year’s beneficiary is First Book-Sioux Falls, which provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy - access to books. First Book-Sioux Falls is a local Advisory Board of the national First Book organization, which has awarded over 100 million books to children in need across the country – books the children can take home and keep.
“First Book-Sioux Falls is honored to be chosen as the beneficiary of the 2014 Downtown Gives campaign. Since founding the organization by 5 members of The History Club in 2012, we have awarded over 5,860 new books to underserved children here in our community by providing books to programs that work with these children. This opportunity – as the recipient of 2014 Downtown Gives – will enable us to reach even more children and organizations,” said Linda Hallstrom, First Book-Sioux Falls Advisory Board.
Funds will be raised through sales of a coupon book, exclusive to participating downtown businesses. The coupon books will go on sale at participating downtown retailer locations on FirstFriday, November 7. Downtown gift cards will be raffled weekly to those who purchase books and sign up to win between November 7 and December 12, 2014.
DTSF received 27 applications for this year’s program, which is a new record. In 2013, Downtown Gives raised $5,000 for The Good Shepherd Center’s children’s area which was also a new record.
“The rising number of beneficiary applicants indicates that the needs of the community continue to rise,” Brienne Maner, DTSF Communications Manager said. “We look forward to putting another hard-working local non-profit in the spotlight and help them to meet their financial goals.”