Turning Points and the Humane Society of Manatee County Form New Partnership

BRADENTON – Turning Points and the Humane Society of Manatee County (HSMC) form new partnership for the 2016 Giving Challenge and beyond.

Turning Points provides, facilitates and coordinates services to men, women and children who are homeless or are at the risk of homelessness. The HSMC is committed to leading Manatee County in fostering compassion and respect for animals through care, education and collaboration. This new partnership will provide resources for families and individuals to stay housed and to keep their pets during difficult times while receiving free or low cost services for their pets.

Programmatically, the services that the HSMC provides to pets, Turning Points provides to men, women and children. Going forward they are participating in each other’s events as a partner thus providing services to each other’s clients.

Strategically, providing resources to families and their pets who are at risk of becoming homeless provides hope, direction and a relief in financial burden that can be debilitating. The ultimate end result will be a happy, healthy productive family and community.

"COMPASSION IN ACTION. BE THE ONE" is their theme for the 2016 Giving Challenge. It is derived from the fact that both organizations provide compassion to humans and their pets that need their services. The Giving Challenge is a 24-hour online giving event on www.givingpartnerchallenge.org that starts Sept 20th at noon and ends on Sept 21st at noon where anyone can be a philanthropist. Since 2012, the Giving Challenge has raised over $15 million in unrestricted funding to support the missions of the area non-profit organizations. This is a fantastic time to support the non-profits that you love and to discover new ones. It is fantastic because your donation will be matched by The Patterson Foundation - a new donor's contribution will be tripled (up to $100). So a $100 donation becomes a $300 donation! A returning donor's contribution will be doubled (up to $100). So a $100 donation becomes a $200 donation.

Turning Points and the HSMC will have two events in support of the Giving Challenge. On Saturday, September 17 from 10:00am-1:00pm, there is a Free Pet Vaccine Clinic and Donation Drive at Turning Points (701 17th Ave West, Bradenton). HSMC will administer free pet vaccines, free microchipping and leashes for Turning Points clients and residents of 34205. Supporters of both organizations are invited to bring their gently used clothing, towels, blankets and dog or cat food to the Donation Drive. The dog and cat food will be housed at Turning Points for clients to access.

The 2nd event will be the Hands and Paws Happy Hour at Motorworks Brewing (1014 9th Street West, Bradenton) on Tuesday, Sept 20th from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Everyone is invited and encouraged to bring along their pets (dogs, cats, snakes, lizards, or whatever). There will be fantastic live music, a delicious food truck, a cute photo booth, an art exhibit with Ben Love (formerly homeless), and a fun Cornhole Tournament. Happy Hour specials will be ongoing too. Grab a partner and show up before 6pm to register for the Cornhole Tournament. There will also be pets available for adoption.

The 2016 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in partnership with The Patterson Foundation, as well as support from Manatee Community Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, and the Herald-Tribune Media Group.

About Turning Points

Turning Points and our Bill Galvano One Stop Center partners provide a remarkable variety of services designed to assist individuals and families on their path to financial stability and independence. Turning Points is the one stop shop for preventing and ending homelessness in our community. We provide day resource services (such as hot showers, laundry services, clothing, food), employment services, rental and utility assistance, veteran’s services (employment, housing and childcare), and free medical and dental care for the uninsured and underinsured. A total of 9,645 people received help last year with critical services targeted to the essential needs of people in crisis. Turning Points can only provide this high standard of service because of our caring, compassionate volunteers and strong community support.

For more information, visit http://tpmanatee.org/