Lighthouse Cares Foundation wins givn #SparkTheGood Contest Second Place

Join us in cheers for the Lighthouse Cares Foundation for winning second place in the givn #SparkTheGood Contest, presented by Posiba. To spotlight how this $7,500 prize money will support their 2016 goals to support high schools in San Diego, we interviewed their Board President Steve Sanchez.

The givn winners were selected based on the most social media engagements (Likes, Shares and ReTweets) using the givn app and website that lets users easily share and track donations (monetary and volunteer hours).

1. How does the Lighthouse Cards Foundation support the community?

The Lighthouse Cares Foundation strives to create meaningful and heartfelt ways to give back to the community. Some of their initiatives include lunches for the homeless, as well as serving meals to support the Ronald McDonald House.

2. What makes the Lighthouse Cares Foundation unique?

The Lighthouse Cares Foundation is part of the 600-person Lighthouse Christian Fellowship congregation. They are always looking for new ways to help the needy. Sanchez emphasized, “Our volunteers really care about the people we serve.” Some of their projects include helping low income families with home repairs, taking meals to sick and incapacitated members, and doing community work at the Boys & Girls Club, as well as at battered women shelters. The foundation even won an award in 2011 for the most blood donated and were featured in a San Diego Blood Bank commercial.

3. What does the Lighthouse Cares Foundation plan to do with the givn #SparkTheGood Contest winnings?

Steve Sanchez explained on how Lighthouse Cares Foundation plans to use their givn prize money, “We have decided that pushing academic advancement helps the kids the most, and that also helps the families. We think this program will help make things even better for high school students that are struggling.” The money will provide things like backpacks, laptops computers, warm clothes and other necessities to high school students.

4. How did Lighthouse Cares Foundation use the givn app and social media sharing to win the contest?

To get fan support for the givn #SparkTheGood Contest, Lighthouse Cares Foundation made an announcement to their fellowship and included the link in their weekly church bulletins. The foundation leadership also felt that their younger generation would participate more, so they worked closely with the youth pastor to get them involved. “We had to work to explain what it was all about, but after a couple of emails, people really got it and were happy to participate,” Sanchez explained.

5. Looking forward, what are your 2016 plans?

On January 29, 2016, the City of San Diego is doing a census of the homeless population in San Diego. “We think that will give us a greater idea on how to help, but we want to continue to focus on the youth population.”

Lighthouse Cares Foundation would appreciate donations to support this youth outreach program. Steve added, “Our motto is Real.Life.Faith. We ask the community to join us in this work to encourage the academic advancement of our children. Nothing could be more important for our future.” They host weekly homeless meals for the homeless every Thursday, and the community is encouraged to get involved.

The givn #SparkTheGood Contest award money will be presented to The Lighthouse Cares Foundation at Posiba with the top 3 winners in San Diego, California, during a special check presentation ceremony on Thursday, January 28, 2016. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you givn and Posiba for making a big difference in the community with this contest and givn app.

For more information about the Lighthouse Cares Foundation, visit http://lighthousecares.org/. You can also download the givn app to track your giving (monetary and volunteer hours), and/or sign up on the givn website: https://givn.social/.

(c) Goody Awards 2016