This year, the Elizabethtown Education Foundation (EEF) is partnering with local nonprofit Give 270 to provide an online crowdfunding campaign to help raise money for the district’s new multifunctional, retrofitted bus! The bus will serve multiple purposes and is only a short drive away. The possibilities for this new space are endless – a mobile tutoring location that takes services and resources to students year round, a new classroom space for teachers looking for a new setting, a spirit wagon for our next Panther Tailgate event, and a source of Panther Pride in the next local parade.
Help us customize the space with technology, awnings, and designs by making an online donation of any amount before April 1st. Our goal is $30,000!*
*Donations beyond the $30,000 will go to the EEF general fund to cover additional teacher-requested grants.
Through a new educational program known as CodeForce, Marion County elementary students are gaining game, app and web development skills while having fun. The program, which is the brainchild and passion project of Chris Porter, a local web designer and developer, is presented by local volunteers and is hosted weekly at the Marion County Public Library.
Through the CodeForce curriculum, students create games in Roblox, Minecraft and Scratch while learning skills in Javascript, HTML/CSS, Python, Unity, Lua and more. The program’s first day of class took place earlier this month, with 10 students enrolled in the program’s first 4-week session.
CodeForce is designed for children ages 8 to 12.
“The development of CodeForce came out of a simple desire to pass on the knowledge I’ve gained in coding over the years to a new generation of students,” Porter said. “Even if these kids don’t go on to pursue a career in programming, the ability to think logically and the presence of mind they can gain from learning these skills can help them in so many ways.”
CodeForce offers several tiers of learning, which includes Sidekick, Agent, Specialist, Hero and Super Hero levels. These tiers of learning range from basic programming concepts such as conditionals, loops, functions and variables to complex data structures in Python and web development concepts. By the time students enter the Super Hero tier, they will be building a web page with clean style and layout;
embedding Javascript programs within an existing web page; editing the page appearance through and CSS and more.
In addition to utilizing the Marion County Public Library, CodeForce also receives assistance from Children’s Librarian Rachael Lynch during class sessions.
“I am so excited to be able to assist in this innovative program,” Lynch said. “We’re always looking for community partners to engage with and educate local youth and CodeForce is a perfect facilitator of this mission.”
CodeForce receives support from sponsors and donors. In December, the program received an approximately $2,000 donation from Elizabethtown-based nonprofit Give 270, which covered the cost of 10 laptops, 10 mice and USB drives.
“When Chris mentioned this program and the potential it had to cultivate web developers in Marion County, we were on board to help make it happen,” said Kenny Rambo, co-founder of Give 270. “This is a perfect example of what our nonprofit is all about – connecting passionate people with resources to do awesome things.”
Due to the overwhelming response of the first session and the generous support of a new sponsor, C3 Consulting, an additional 10 spots have been added for the next session. Porter is also working with Marion County Schools to see how the curriculum can be incorporated into the system’s after-school program.
“As we gain momentum and find additional sponsorship opportunities, we hope to expand our class sizes and frequency of classes,” Porter said. “We are off to a great start and we hope that with time, we can make a substantial impact on area youth and even help shape the next generation of technologically-competent employees in the community.”
Through a donation to CodeForce, you can help local children learn valuable skills in game, app and web development while having a great time. Our mission is sustained through sponsorships and donations, and any amount invested into our organization will help fulfill our vision of youth engagement.
Give 270, a local nonprofit, recently partnered with the Elizabethtown and Radcliff congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to raise money for two area nonprofits – Hardin County Helping Hand of Hope and Warm Blessings. As part of a fundraiser called “Fast Relief,” the two congregations sponsored a community fund raising drive to raise more than $1,500 in one day. Each organization received a $762.22 check.
Fast Relief encouraged the community to fast the first Sunday of Advent in December and donate the money they would have spent on food to local nonprofits combating hunger and food insecurity.
“On the first Sunday of each month, our congregations fast and donate money to the church to help care for the poor and those in need in our congregations and community,” said Elizabethtown Bishop Micah Shirts. “In December, we wanted to invite the community to have the same experience of fasting and donating, and dedicate the funds for local nonprofits well-situated to help our communities.”
The Church reached out to Give 270 to identify ways to easily collect donations for the fundraiser and encourage others in the community to participate. Give 270 created a web page for crowdfunding donations.
“The holiday season is a great occasion to show the love of Christ to our communities and this fundraiser is a great opportunity,” said Arthur Russell, bishop of the Radcliff congregation. “We hope this becomes a regular tradition for the entire community.”
Following the check presentation, leaders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints listened to the unique needs of both Hardin County Helping Hand of Hope and Warm Blessings, along with volunteer opportunities for families and small groups.
Dawn Cash, executive director of Warm Blessings, outlined the services provided to the nonprofit’s clients. These include immediate needs like a warm meal, but also long-term services overseen by an onstaff case manager to identify housing and support healthcare needs.
“Community contributions such as this one help us help others,” Cash said. “Monetary support and volunteers demonstrate to our clients that the community cares about them and wants to help them.”
Give 270 is a local 501(c)(3) crowdfunding organization that raises money to benefit projects and organizations in Hardin, LaRue and Meade counties. Give 270 also hosts the Eric and Joe Show and other fundraising events.
“Give 270 is passionate about finding creative ways to support immediate and long-term needs in our local communities,” said Give 270 co-founder Kenny Rambo. “This is a perfect example of how Give 270 connects local donors and benefactors with the causes that deserve their support, thus creating a community that truly helps each other in times of need.”
Learn more about Give 270 and their current fundraising efforts at give270.org.
Immediately after the devastating tornados that impacted Kentucky in December 2021, Give 270 established a crowd sourcing effort called School to School. Through local crowdsourcing efforts, national efforts with Chrome Unboxed, and through weekly Whiskey Wednesday Bourbon Raffles, Give 270 raised $10,500 for Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSC) at Warren County Public Schools in the Bowling Green area.
Distributions have been made in the following forms:
Chick-fila Gift Cards
Walmart Gift Cards
Monetary Donation to Warren County Schools Synergy Program
Join Chrome Unboxed and Give270 to help provide ongoing support to Kentucky school districts impacted by the recent tornado outbreak. Every school has a Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSC) that works closely with students and families throughout the school year. Now, more than ever, they need our help to meet needs for students and families impacted.
Join us and our local non-profit partner Give270 as we collect gift cards and monetary donations to purchase gift cards. The gift cards will be delivered to school FRYSC currently supporting families who have lost so much.
Help us provide ongoing support to Kentucky school districts impacted by the recent tornado outbreak. Every school has a Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSC) that works closely with students and families throughout the school year. Now, more than ever, they need our help to meet needs for students and families impacted.
Join us as we collect gift cards and monetary donations to purchase gift cards. The gift cards will be delivered to school FRYSC currently supporting families who have lost so much.
Today, representatives from The Eric and Joe Show and Give 270 joined various event sponsors to present a $10,000 check to Helping Hand of Hope Affordable Christmas. The Eric and Joe Show, which was presented by Magnolia Bank, is an annual variety show. The donation is based on proceeds from this year’s show that took place at the Historic State Theater in Elizabethtown November 19- 21.
“Each year, we put together this silly show with the hope of bringing a little joy to our community and show them the love of Christ,” said Joe Bennett, The Eric and Joe Show co-founder and writer. “The fact that we are able to make a donation of this level is a testament to the generous spirit of our community and their willingness to endure our show.”
The Eric & Joe Show began in 2013 when two lifelong friends had a hair-brained idea to write, produce and perform a variety show in their hometown. Much to the creator’s amazement, the production was a success. So much so, it has become an annual, family-friendly event for many across the region.
The 2021 show was the eighth installment. Since 2013, the event has raised more than $50,000 for area nonprofits including the Baptist Health Foundation Hardin, Mission Hope for Kids, Clarity Solutions and more.
The Eric and Joe Show is a fundraiser of Give 270, a local non-profit that focuses on venture philanthropy projects benefiting communities in Hardin, LaRue, and Meade County Kentucky. Since its founding in 2016, Give 270 has raised and distributed nearly $300,000 for area non-profits and worthwhile causes.
“As a Give 270 fundraiser and with the support of our generous sponsors and attendees, we are able to make a lasting impact in our community,” said Eric Clemens, The Eric and Joe Show co-founder and Give 270 board chair. “Affordable Christmas is an important service in our community around the holidays, and we are so excited to support area families.”
Affordable Christmas is a ministry of Helping Hand of Hope that empowers low-income parents by enabling them to purchase Christmas gifts for their children at a reduced cost. Learn more at helpinghandofhope.com.
The Eric and Joe Show will be LIVE and in person this year.
The Eric and Joe Show presented by Magnolia Bank returns to the the Historic State Theater in Elizabethtown, Kentucky on November 19-21. They will be performing in front of REAL…LIVE…HUMAN BEINGS!!!
Two ticket options available: VIP Tickets – $50/each General Admission – $15/each in advance
You could be one of those real, live human beings in the audience! So come enjoy a night out with The Eric and Joe Show – ridiculous, family-friendly sketch comedy – along with music from The Mark Melloan Band and make a difference in our community.
This year, a portion of proceeds from the Eric and Joe Show, a Give270 Fundraiser, will go to Helping Hand of Hope‘s Affordable Christmas. Affordable Christmas partners with local school Family Resource and Youth Services Centers and area churches to provide participating families with affordable gift options for all ages. The program is dedicated to protecting the dignity of participating family while ensuring there’s a better chance of children receiving gifts that match their interests and abilities.
Give 270 presented a proceeds check for $2,546 to United Way of Central Kentucky. The proceeds come from an online crowdsourcing campaign hosted by Give 270 in honor of United Way of Central Kentucky’s 20th Anniversary.
United Way of Central Kentucky solves complex and costly community challenges by forging partnerships and mobilizing resources to find new solutions to old problems that not one organization can address alone. Together we win by inspiring others to join the fight against our community’s most persistent problems and empowering individuals and families to reach their fullest potential. Serving Hardin, Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue and Meade Counties, United Way of Central Kentucky invites you to change the odds for residents across our region.
Please consider making a donation to United Way of Central Kentucky here.
