A story in last Sunday's Observer told you about Pat's Place needing to urgently raise $100,000 to continue its service of providing a sanctuary for sexually abused children.
Because of funding cuts, the charity's fifth annual Barbecue and Bluejeans fundraiser next month is more crucial than ever to meet its demanding operating costs (the current budget is $425,000), executive director Anne Pfeiffer told the Observer.
Now The Leon Levine Foundation has performed another rescue mission -- donating $50,000 to Pat's Place.
"It's not a dream," Pfeiffer said today. "The $50,000 from the Levines will help ensure we exceed our goal. They're amazing."
Pat's Place still has a goal of raising $100,000 from the fundraiser.
As The Cliff reported in an earlier post, the foundation, established by Family Dollar Stores founder Leon Levine and wife Sandra (pictured above), has been on a giving spree lately.
Seems every time they hear of a nonprofit threatened by the current economic strife, they jump in with the foundation's substantial assets -- about $200 million -- to perform a rescue mission.
"The Levines have always been generous and tried to help," said Tom Lawrence, the foundation's vice president and spokesman. "But they understand that in today's unique and challenging economy, their philanthropy has become even more important.
"My sense is that they really enjoy it. The community has been very supportive of them and the business that Mr. Levine created. They recognize the importance of giving back and this is their chance -- at a time when it's really needed."The Levines rescued Charlotte's Hope Haven -- the well-known addiction recovery program for the homeless -- with a $50,000 grant in April to help repair a leaky roof. In May, they donated $25,000 to the financially strapped Charlotte Symphony to cover its bills. In June, the foundation committed $1 million to help Teach for America put 225 college graduates in high-poverty Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools.
And last month, the foundation decided to advance Central Piedmont Community College the first $300,000 of a $2 million gift that it was supposed to begin paying in 2010. That decision came after Levine and foundation officials read that CPCC has been hit hard by rising enrollment and budget cuts.
Lawrence said that Leon Levine is intricately involved in deciding who gets his foundation's money. Levine retired as head of Family Dollar in 2003, and now at 72, is turning his foundation work into a second career.
He stays informed of the agencies that need help that the "foundation has partnered with in the past," Lawrence said. "The focus tends to be agencies that have we know have a strong impact on the community and that make a difference. In most cases, we know the folks involved, we know their impact.
"Mr. Levine really drives the process. He's involved in every level of the decision-making. He enjoys seeing the positive impact that his money brings; he does enjoy giving it away."
Now, it's Pat's Place and the children it helps feeling his generosity.
"We're not able to serve all the kids we need to serve because of financial constraints," Pfeiffer said. "Their grant gets us much closer to that goal. They are so generous and we couldn’t do what we do without them, as many other organizations couldn’t."
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5 comments:
Having spent two days in CMC Levine last week with my young daughter, I can only comment that these people are treasures and we are lucky to have them in Charlotte.
The Levines truly amaze me with their generous gifts . . . goes to show that wealth indeed has distinct privileges if you use it the way it should be used.
The Levine family truly amazes me . . . their continuous generosity goes above and beyond the true meaning of generous grace-driven wealth - giving to help those who truly cannot help themselves.
You reap what you sow. The Levine's and Family Dollar Stores have enjoyed success for decades. It's a joy to see his foundation so actively involved in supporting the local charities that have suffered as a result of the United Way scandal.
Mr. Levine built a legacy by founding one of the most successful retain chains in history. Throughout the years he has shared his success with those less fortunate. Many people have been blessed by his compassion and his willingness to help those less fortunate.
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