AUGUST FOR OTHERS

Community Fundraiser / August for MANAUS Emergency Fund

In addition to our class options and supporting our Ripple Effect family, we are dedicated to bolstering our community as a whole and realize that while we as a business are experiencing a significant financial impact from the coronavirus closures we are also in a much better situation than many of our neighbors in the Roaring Fork Valley. There are individuals and families in our valley who are suffering far more than us and lack the education, resources, and freedoms we do to survive during this crisis.

So, for the entire month of August, we will be donating 10% of training fees to the MANAUS Emergency Fund.  MANAUS, based in Carbondale and led by our very own Sydney Schalit, is a 501c3 non-profit working in partnership with other local organizations to create sustainable solutions that further equity within our communities. To date, the MANAUS Emergency Fund has helped more than 1,250 immigrant families with emergency cash assistance grants. Every $1,000 donated supports an immigrant neighbor-in-need to pay rent, utilities and much more. While delivering emergency cash assistance, MANAUS, for nearly 4 years, has worked to build habits of saving throughout the immigrant community. In order to make our donations financially possible, Carolyn will be donating her salary to cover Ripple Effect’s 10% to the MANAUS Emergency Fund.

For all athletes coming into the gym or attending virtual classes in August, we will donate 10% of your training fees to the Emergency Fund, you do not need to do anything but come in and you will contribute! If you would like to provide further support, you may match our donation, we will add 10% to your end of the month bill and send that along to the MANAUS Emergency Fund. For example: eight classes in a month = $200/ RE;  %10 = $20 + your additional 10% = $20. Total donation $40, total cost to you only increases by $20.

We would also love to have a grand total matching donor, similar to the anonymous matching donor that doubled our raised funds during our Protect Our Winters event this past winter. If you have the means to do so and are interested in matching part or all of the funds that we are donating to MANAUS, please let us know and we can discuss details.

Finally, if you are not yet ready to come back in but would still like to donate to the emergency fund, you may do so here: https://www.manaus.org/calling-all-risk-takers.

From Sydney Schalit~

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, MANAUS created the MANAUS Emergency Fund and, utilizing LaMedichi’s technology, enabled a feature that ensures rapid deployment of emergency cash assistance to the most vulnerable in our communities. Our immigrant neighbors have little to no access to traditional public funding and are the most vulnerable to a financial crisis. MANAUS has already raised and disbursed $1,250,000 to 1,250 immigrant families via the trusted, bi-cultural technology of LaMedichi. For each qualified family, LaMedichi delivers $950 in immediate cash assistance and a $50 deposit into their personal LaMedichi savings account.

While the pandemic continues, the risk of ongoing financial crisis, in addition to high health risks, remains high amongst our immigrant communities. MANAUS and LaMedichi are committed to supporting families through financial literacy and building a habit of savings, throughout and beyond this crisis. While MANAUS and LaMedichi are addressing immediate needs, we are also setting underserved community members up to navigate their future.

To learn more about MANAUS and the wonderful work that they do, visit their website here: www.manaus.org.

Thank you all again for being a part of our family and community, we would not be here without you.

One day at a time, stay happy, healthy, and please let us know how we can be of help.

All our best,
Carolyn, Betsy, Caitlin and Sarah