This will be the first Pink Gravel Donation Drive since Jon and I opened The Pink Gravel Fund with the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF).   While donations can be made to the fund at anytime, during these 17 days donors names will be entered into a drawing for a Marc Jacobs Pink Tote Bag.

QUICK STORY BEHIND THE TOTE:  I was given $$$ from my parents right after the Halloween on Main Street event Pink Gravel hosted with the Dwight CDC.  My Mom said in so many words "use this for Pink Gravel however you want".  So for several days I carried it in my pocket trying to decide if it should be applied to the fund or put in the bank just to cover future expenses.  Well, one weekend I was out looking at Halloween stuff on sale, I saw this bright pink tote tied up and tagged like it was something special.  Honestly, I don't carry a purse or anything, so I was unfamiliar with the brand.  Turns out Marc Jacobs is up there on the brand names list of bags.  I starred at it for a long time somewhat mesmerized by the color and wondering how I could use this for Pink Gravel.  Eventually, I decided to buy it and figure it out later.  I couldn't pass this hot pink bag.  By the time I got home with it, I had figured out a plan to use it for the first Donation Drive for The Pink Gravel Fund.

SEVERAL WAYS TO DONATE:

1. Go directly to the ECF website by clicking this LINK.  Complete the form, choose your amount and pay using a credit or debit card.  For amounts $30 or more, the ECF will send you a thank you acknowledging your donations.  This method is alos the best way to verify your donation is tax deductible.
2. Go to the SHOP PAGE of this website and select the amount and quantity of said amount that you want to donate.  This options allows you to use PayPal, Credit Card or Debit Card for payment.  You will receive an email confirming the payment.  Donations thru the Pink Gravel website will be paid to the fund at the end of the term.
3. Mail a check.  To consider this a tax deductible donation, make the check out to: Emporia Community Foundation FBO the Pink Gravel Fund.  (or write Pink Gravel Fund in the memo line of check)  Checks can be mailed to Pinkg Gravel, PO BOX 155, Dwight, Kansas 66849.  In order to track checks and to make sure your name is included in the drawing, it is suggested you go to the SHOP page of this website and chose the option tha says you are mailing a check.  In the notes, write the amount.  This way if a check comes in after Dec. 10th, your entries will already be included.

ABOUT THE DRAWING:

1. Donations made between November 24, 2021 Eight AM to December 10, 2021 Midnight will be included in the drawing.  Name will be drawn on December 14, 2021.
2. Every person gets their name entered into the drawing once for making a donation of any amount.  Then, for every $5 donated, the person receives another entry into the drawing.  So a $5 donation gets you two entries into the drawling.  Another example is if you were to donate $25.  The calculation for that is ($25/5)+1= 6 entries.
3. A single entry for the act of making a donation can only occur once.  The "+1" only counts the first day you donate during the term.
4. A donation is considered to be $1 or more.  There will be no refunds on donations made.
5. Mailed donations will have till December 13, 2021 to arrive for names to be included in the drawing.  
6. All donations collected thru the Pink Gravel website will be sent to ECF for the Pink Gravel Fund after the drawing has occurred.

If you have any questions about how to donate, where to donate or about the drawing.  Please send an email to:  pinkgravelrider@gmail.com.
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From August of 2020 to October 2021, Pink Gravel LLC has been my vehicle to raise enough money to open a fund within a non-profit organization.   So, in the past year plus, without being too pushy, I semi-silently fundraised and set 100% of Pink Gravel's profits to the side.  My husband and I volunteered or rode in events in order to introduce folks to the Pink Gravel logo and name.  We drug our kids, aka The Pink Gravel Crew, to many gravel intersections to cheer and assist participants on fun rides or organized rides. 

I have to give a shout and thanks to the following for their support in the early beginnings:

>> Joe (Solstice Joe) for his sponsorship of the original Pink Gravel tee shirts.  It wasn't anything we asked for so the least I could do is give the Solstice top billing on the back of the tee.  This is the shirt I live in and the ones you see worn at SAGs and such.
>> Justin after our help at his Nebransas 100k made a nice contribution that was a surprise and appreciated. 
>> And of course, Mark and Renee for embracing Pink Gravel into the Pony Express Gravel Dash 120 fold.  Without even a nudge, they took Pink Gravel and ran; putting Pink Gravel large and proud on their volunteer shirts in 2020. 

It has been these random kind acts so early on that motivated me and the Crew to just keep doing as we do without being annoying ha ha.  We rarely - if ever - asked for money in return; we just wanted to be able to wear our pink shirts and get a slice of pie if possible.

And it has worked.

After 1.5 gravel seasons, $3000 has been raised.  I am tickled pink!  It was time to shop around for a area foundation that would welcome the purpose of the fund as well as fit the communities the foundation served.  After a suggestion from another foundation director, I reached out to Becky of the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF).  It did not take much for her to embrace the purpose of the Pink Gravel Fund.  In one week, an application was completed, submitted and approved on October 15, 2021.  My dream of a Pink Gravel Fund became a real thing.  Wow, just wow!

For those not familiar with the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF), the ECF mission is to connect caring people with causes that build stronger communities within the Emporia area which includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties.   The Pink Gravel Fund does extend to Riley County in addition to the seven specifically listed in the ECF.  So that is EIGHT counties in Kansas for the Pink Gravel Fund to serve and provide support for breast cancer patients and survivors.

The Pink Gravel Fund is up and ready to accept donations as we speak.  If you go to the ECF website and click DONATE you can select the Pink Gravel Fund.  (or click the button below)  Any amount welcome and all donations via the ECF to the Pink Gravel Fund is tax deductible.   The short description of the purpose of the Pink Gravel Fund is to provide support for breast cancer patients, survivors and awareness.  The support intended by the fund will occur when an application is submitted by a breast cancer patient or survivor that resides in one of the eight counties is reviewed and accepted by the Pink Gravel Advisory committee and the ECF Board.  Examples of a Pink Gravel grant request could be to help with: a utility bill, purchase item to provide comfort during treatment, assistance for treatment travel expenses.

The PINK GRAVEL FUND plans to begin taking grant applications in the SPRING/SUMMER OF 2022 (UPDATE: when the fund reaches a balance of $10,000.00).  Watch for more information to follow after the first of the year.

In the meantime, if you would like to make an online donation, click the button below.

Mailed checks should be made out to the:  Emporia Community Foundation (or ECF) 
with PINK GRAVEL FUND in the memo line.