Funds raised for adoption and foster care, Girls on the Run during #GivingTuesday

Allentown, Pa. (Thursday December 3, 2015)

Four adoptive and foster families competed in Diakon's first video contest for #GivingTuesday, raising nearly $900 for Diakon Adoption & Foster Care, as well as awareness of how such families "make worlds whole" for waiting children and youths. 

Diakon and the families themselves promoted their efforts through various means including social media. The Storey family of York County, Pa., raised the most at $390. The video included a creative magic trick illustrating how families make lives whole, often from young lives that have been torn apart by various circumstances. 

In addition, a local #GivingTuesday campaign for the Diakon-sponsored Girls on the Run – Lehigh Valley topped its goal, raising more than $500 to provide scholarships for girls who could not otherwise participate in Girls on the Run, which is a transformational, physical activity-based, youth-development program for girls in third through eighth grades.

"We appreciate everyone who contributed to these campaigns," says MaryEllen Dickey, senior vice president for Development with Diakon. "Their gifts are extremely important!"

"The videos submitted were all very creative and heartfelt," adds Mark Pile, Diakon president/CEO. "They were very good and a joy to watch."

Diakon plans a similar video contest for next year's #GivingTuesday. Several videos from this year's campaign may be used on the Diakon Adoption & Foster Care website as it is rebuilt.

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For further information, please contact:
William Swanger, M.A., APR
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries
(717) 795-0308
E-mail: swangerb@diakon.org