Christmas Adopt-a-Family Raffle

[Lipripper]

Thanks for the update Mike and thanks to everyone who has given  Wow $1,000 and I'm sure we can do better if we dig a little deeper and I'm sure the monkey can go without his food for a few weeks so this family can have more  this time of the year so search your heart and out in you ear plugs to stop hearing that monkey and send Mike the money for this family in need.

[Smallie_Stalker]

Thanks for the update Mike and thanks to everyone who has given  Wow $1,000 and I'm sure we can do better if we dig a little deeper and I'm sure the monkey can go without his food for a few weeks so this family can have more  this time of the year so search your heart and out in you ear plugs to stop hearing that monkey and send Mike the money for this family in need.

Well said Lip.    If we all skipped the morning coffee on the way to work for a week or that fast food lunch we could lose a few pounds and more importantly help out this family so they can have a decent Christmas. 

[Smallie_Stalker]

I'm finally getting this out on my social media accounts. Sorry for the delay in doing that, it's been crazy the past few weeks. But that's really no excuse. Let's spread the word as many ways as we can.

[analfisherman]

I think the BIO will bring in more money.
A lot of folks don't give to general charities BUT once they know who, what and why of the families needs....it becomes PERSONAL.......hence, you feel like your giving directly to a family and you know what it's going for.

Kind of like, few people give to homeless shelters BUT are more than willing to hand a guy on the street minding his own business but you can tell from the cloths on his back.....he could use a couple of bucks....you hand him/her $5 or whatever to get a meal or some gloves or hat.

[Mike Cork]

Ron was writing the bio when his computer crashed and had to be sent off. Par for the course they were slow in fixing it. He got it back today and finished our Adopt A Family Bio

Ultimatebass.com Christmas Adopt a Family Tradition

UltimateBass Members I'd like to introduce you to the 2017 adopted family. This isn't a family that has made poor decisions and ended up in need, she is a wonderful lady who gives all for her kids with no help from their father.

Wendy Wright is a single mother of 3 children Kate 20, Johnathon 16 and Madison 10.  She like the rest of us have had her ups and downs over the years; however with Wendy it just seems like every time she starts to get even in life, not ahead, something takes her legs out from under her.

Danielle, the Corks and I have watched her kids grow over the years and have seen firsthand some of the pitfalls that have impacted this family over and over. Recently Wendy had to go in for emergency abdominal surgery, being at a new job she had very limited sick days to begin with and used them all a day at a time in the weeks leading up to surgery when she just wasn't well enough to make it to work.

She had no idea emergency surgery was around the corner. When she finally was able to seek medical treatment expecting a pill, shot or maybe some reassurance everything was fine she was shocked when admitted and went under the knife.  Surgery went well, her recovery is progressing, it was and still is the nerves on how she is going to keep the lights on and feed her children that has kept her up at nights.

We knew a local church intervened to pay the light bill and directed her to a food bank. The humility it must take to swallow ones pride after working her whole life to then have to ask for food. I can't imagine how her strength is tested time and time again, and god bless her as she marches on. My heart broke when I read on facebook she was looking for a forever home for their family pet. Of course I understand her reasoning but to explain to two small children that Mom is giving away their dog because she can't afford food for them so there just wasn't any money left to buy dog food.

The thought of gifts and a Christmas meal isn't even on her mind right now; in fact the greatest Christmas Gift she could receive is knowing others out in the world care about them and in doing so maybe provide some relief of feeding her family and keeping the lights on long enough to get back to work.

I know we all have our cross to carry in this world, none of us are able to do it on our own our whole lives,,, we have all gotten a hand at one time or will need one in the future.  If you are able in any way to help, your donation would mean the world to Wendy who knows absolutely nothing of this effort.

I sincerely hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas
Respectfully
Ron Fogy Fogelson

[D.W. Verts]

I will not bitch again. I swear.

Thanks Mike.

Dale

[zippyduck]

I will not bitch again. I swear.

Thanks Mike.

Dale

X2 Prayers for her and the family.

[Ron Fogelson]

Honestly and maybe selfishly it just hit me how fast and easy it can be for some to be fine one day and living in a car or asking for food the next.   To see her always smiling and chipper, thinking of others pulls at our hearts.   I've requested her name be placed on our Americn Legion Food Baskket list.  We do this every year around this time and am happy to say she has been approved it's not a lot but she will have a turkey and ham for Christmas and enough to help out for a short time 

[analfisherman]

Ron, Mike thanks!

Wendy, Kate, Jonathan and Madison (granddaughter's name is Madison) I'll be praying, crying and rethinking the measly gift I sent you.

I hope you will be able to have at least  ONE day of peace , smiles and laughter....CHRISTMAS!

God bless!

[Lipripper]

Ron thanks for the story of Wendy and will add them to my daily prayer list. I hope others who haven't donated yet will read this story and be touched and cip in even if it's just $20 every little bit helps.

[Mike Cork]

Folks every $20 helps. We drop it in a heart beat, but someone in Wendy's situation can make $20 feed her family dinner for two days. And because she didn't have to ask someone for food, it's two days of peace for her.

We've had some awesome donations, if at the first of December, when we all get paid, we can add another $20, it will put us over the top of our goal 

I know we are all very tight on money this time of year. I for one am already into the credit cards to make it through the holiday. But that's okay, I'll tighten the belt through January and Feb and get back on track. My point is, I know we are all on a slim budget and I just want to say a special thanks to all of you that have already given, Thank You!

[Mike Cork]

Folks we have an amazing group of people, I can't thank you enough for all your support. Adding, Bud Kennedy again, Lee Smith, and Basinlou


Our supporters so far

CaptSteve
FishinDaddy
Lipripper
Donald Garner
SteveTX
TwoCold
Basss
Princeton_Man
Terry G
Sportsmansfriend
Bud Kennedy x 2
Nats
Paul G
D.W. Verts x 3
Mygreenihc
68camero
ZippyDuck
FishandKamp
RickDelPrado
Smallie_Stalker
AnalFisherman
ScottRowell
Lee Smith
Bassinlou

Thank you everyone that has bought tickets You are all winners in my book, I wish I had prizes just for helping out.

Mike

[Smallie_Stalker]

Thanks Ron for sharing the story. It's good to have specific names to add to our prayer list.

[Lipripper]

I made a post on my Face Book page and shared the story and edited out the names to protect the privacy of Wendy on a place like Face Book and just put the how to donate if they wanted too. so far I've had several people share my post on their page also so hopefully we can get some outside folks who are not members here to donate also.

[Donald Garner]

Ron,
Tks for sharing the information with us.

[Ron Fogelson]

I made a post on my Face Book page and shared the story and edited out the names to protect the privacy of Wendy on a place like Face Book and just put the how to donate if they wanted too. so far I've had several people share my post on their page also so hopefully we can get some outside folks who are not members here to donate also.

Thank You Lip for do this.   

[Smallie_Stalker]

Mike, I think Pay pal finally fixed my account issues!!! 

I sent you some more money today by pay Pal. Can you let me know if you received it so I will know for sure that they finally got things working right again? Thanks boss. 

[Mike Cork]

I am honored that Ultimate Bass members are so giving Thank You. Thanks Smallie 


Our supporters so far

CaptSteve
FishinDaddy
Lipripper
Donald Garner
SteveTX
TwoCold
Basss
Princeton_Man
Terry G
Sportsmansfriend
Bud Kennedy x 2
Nats
Paul G
D.W. Verts x 5
Mygreenihc
68camero
ZippyDuck
FishandKamp
RickDelPrado
Smallie_Stalker x2
AnalFisherman
ScottRowell
Lee Smith
Bassinlou

Thank You everyone. I'll get a new total posted today hopefully.
Mike

[Lipripper]

That's great Mike and thanks for the update. Are we getting any response from outside of UB?

[Mike Cork]

That's great Mike and thanks for the update. Are we getting any response from outside of UB?

No not yet. Other than FaceBook I'm not sure how to push it. I guess I could go to wallyhell and sell tickets at the door

[Lipripper]

No not yet. Other than FaceBook I'm not sure how to push it. I guess I could go to wallyhell and sell tickets at the door

Yelp not much more we can do. We put it out there on  FaceBook and pass it around but can't make them donate.

[Mike Cork]

Alright folks we are at $1280 

Help me push and get the word out!!! I really want to make $1500 this year

[SteveTX]

Advertising.  The more places the better the odds of catching someones attention. Here are a few places that might be worth the time to look into. The more places its advertised the better. 

Fundley - It's absolutely free to launch a Fundly campaign. Fundly charges a straightforward 4.9% platform fee, with payment processing fees of 3% per transaction. Source https://fundly.com/

Razoo - Razoo charges 5% for personal fundraising donations and 4% for charitable donations. On top of that, both personal fundraisers and nonprofits will be charged a 2.9% + $.30 payment processing fee per transaction. https://www.razoo.com/personal-fundraising.

Qgiv - Qgiv's starter package is $0 per month plus payment processing fees of 3.95% + $.30 per transaction, making it one of the most accessible online giving platforms on the market for budget-conscious nonprofits. source https://www.qgiv.com/

@Pay - With unlimited users and donation pages, @Pay Basic costs $0 per year, with a payment processing fee of 2.9% + $.30 per transaction. source https://www.atpay.com/

Network for Good's DonateNow - There are no platform or monthly fees to use Basic DonateNow. Instead, you'll simply be charged a 4.75% payment processing fee. source http://web.networkforgood.org/

https://www.gofundme.com/charity-fundraising

https://www.justgive.org/index.jsp

https://gogetfunding.com/

I'm sure there are more than these as well.

[Mike Cork]

I thought about using one of these places up front to put all the money in one place. However by the time Pay Pal charges and they they take their piece it just sucks. But a combination of both might work

[Bigwrench]

As many know, our family was chosen last year and it made a world of difference for our family. Can't emphasize how thankful we are to each and every one of you . Up until Tuesday I had $2.30
In the bank account so I am glad things worked out where I could help in some small way this year .
PayPal Sent Mike