By Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director

Imagine you’re a new parent who has just found out that your precious baby will need extra support in life, whether it’s specialized medical devices, an organ transplant, or fragile care.  Or imagine your child is struggling academically in school and has difficulty communicating with peers. How do you get them tested?  Is there a place where these children could receive therapy with coordinated care among several providers?  What support is available for parents to help navigate this process?

The Center for Developmental Services (CDS) is a place where families can find medically fragile daycare, developmental evaluation, diagnosis, audiology, therapy, family support and more, all under one roof.  We serve over 6,800 children each year through a collaborative partnership in downtown Greenville. For over 17 years we have been impacting the community to build stronger, more united care systems for children with developmental delays and disabilities.

But just as we impact our community, our community impacts us.

All businesses must diversify their revenue sources in order to be sustainable.  For charitable organizations, revenue might include a combination of direct service fees, memberships, government grants, foundation grants, United Way funding, solicitation mailers, or fundraisers.  Every non-profit is unique in their percentages of each, but they all include a key ingredient:  strong support from individual and corporate donors.

As you look for ways to become more active in our thriving Upstate communities, consider also the ways you can make a financial investment.  Whether it’s a corporate sponsorship or a personal donation, fundraisers provide the operational support that keep our valuable programs running.

As an involved donor myself, I look for ways my family can have fun together on the weekend for a cause.  We enjoy 5K’s, mud runs, and cornhole tournaments that provide a bit of competition.  For date night, my husband and I enjoy fundraisers that include delicious food and time to visit with friends.  On a professional level, events that are scheduled early in the morning or over lunch work best because I can easily participate without restructuring my day.  Non-profits have these events down to a “t”, and they are worth your time to attend when their missions match your personal interests.

If you’ve never been to a breakfast fundraiser, here is your personal invitation.  CDS is hosting our 6^th annual Eggs Benefit on Thursday, Oct. 5^th at 7:30am in downtown Greenville at the Poinsett Club.  The event is free, but registration is required to ensure we plan for an accurate headcount.  For more information or to register, visit www.EggsBenefit.com.  The unforgettable stories you’ll hear from our families will leave you inspired to make a difference.  Once you attend, you’ll see why people keep coming back year after year.  I hope to see you there!