GORDON GIVES Fund
The idea was always in the back of Carol Nance’s mind. The Owner and CEO of Nance industries in Calhoun, Georgia always wondered what it would take to launch a local program or charitable organization designed to help local individuals and families struggling with the absolute greatest of needs.
Nance had long supported “Chattanooga’s Neediest Cases,” a program started by the late, great Adolph Ochs, founder of the Chattanooga Times Free Press and the New York Times. Legend has it that Adolph Ochs was walking home after dinner one night and found a man who was fed, but had nowhere to sleep. Ochs gave him a few dollars but was motivated to use his newspaper to tell stories of folks in need so that readers could donate money to help those in desperate situations. United Way of Greater Chattanooga has been managing the fund with help from the newspaper for over a century now.
For forty years, Nance watched the Chattanooga program save lives - lift people up in their darkest hours. Nance knew a similar program was needed in the Calhoun-Gordon County community, as well. Earlier this year, she reached out to United Way of Gordon County and the Calhoun-Gordon Community Foundation, and after a couple of lunches and several discussions, a partnership was formed to start GORDON GIVES, a program modeled on “Chattanooga’s Neediest Cases.” In early November, the Foundation announced the GORDON GIVES Fund had been created. Carol Nance will act as the charitable fund’s advisor. The fund has already accepted donations from the public.
Seed money for GORDON GIVES was provided by Carol Nance, the Calhoun-Gordon Community Foundation, United Way of Gordon County, and Candidly Kind, a local apparel business that makes charitable donations to organizations that share their vision of spreading kindness and goodwill across the globe.
GORDON GIVES will focus on helping people who are in “extraordinary” situations needing “once in a lifetime” assistance to get through a tumultuous event. The purpose of GORDON GIVES is not to help pay one utility bill. “There are organizations that provide that type of assistance already,” Nance says. “Our focus will be on major issues or obstacles facing an individual or family that cannot be helped by current community organizations.”
“GORDON GIVES is not about changing a moment, it’s about changing lives. ”
Know that when you donate to GORDON GIVES, your donation will be changing the life of someone who desperately needs it. From veterans to young mothers, orphans to widows, individuals to families, contributions will go to those who really need it - those who have no other place to go.
“I saw the hundreds of $25 donations and less, as well as anonymous gifts of $500 or more, sent each season to Chattanooga,” Nance says. “I know we can do some amazing things here in Gordon County. We hope you join us in lifting up others who are facing devastating hardships.”
To donate to GORDON GIVES:
Give online using the “DONATE” button below. Note that the Community Foundation incurs a 2.9% + $.30 credit card processing fee through Stripe for online donations.
Mail us a check (Pay to the Order of GORDON GIVES): Community Foundation/GORDON GIVES, PO Box 942, Dalton, GA 30722-0942
Drop off a check (Pay to the Order of GORDON GIVES) to our regional office: Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, 714 South Thornton Avenue in Dalton 30720
