| |
Look What You Helped Us Accomplish in 2020
Posted By:
Austin Alley
Thursday, December 17, 2020
2020… What a year to remember and what a year to forget. It
was a year of ups and downs for everyone, and the Within Reach Foundation was
no exception. However – despite all of the challenges – Allen and the rest of
the foundation were still able to accomplish a lot in the community between a
mix of old programs and new initiatives.
To begin the year, Allen pledged to launch his second Reach For A Book Reading Zone at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.
While he was unable to officially launch the new Reading Zone this year due to
the facilities’ COVID-19 restrictions, the foundation plans to move forward
with the program in 2021, providing a safe and comfortable space to read
with over 1,200 age appropriate books.
Like most other organizations, the Within Reach Foundation
had to make adjustments once the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March. With new and
more urgent needs arising in the community, Allen took action and launched a hunger
relief campaign, donating $12,000 himself and encouraging the community to
match his $12k. They did more than match it. Through the $12k for #12 campaign,
over $58,000 was raised, which provided well over 96,000 lbs. of food to
Chicago families in need through partnership with the Greater Chicago Food
Depository.
Allen was so inspired by this outreach that he decided later
in the year to officially incorporate hunger relief into his foundation’s
mission.
In furtherance of the COVID-19 relief efforts, the Within
Reach Foundation partnered with Team NSR, a conglomeration of local IT
companies, to provide $10,000 worth of PPE masks to Chicago families in need. Over
30,000 surgical masks were distributed, ensuring the city's most vulnerable
citizens have the PPE needed to stay healthy and safe.
Returning to his philanthropic roots, Allen also participated
in a literacy program offered by the Chicago Public Library to promote reading
for Chicago’s youth, who continue to learn from home. ‘Live from the Library’
is a virtual story time in which noteworthy Chicago residents read a children’s
book on a livestream to inspire kids to pick up their own books. Allen read his
favorite children’s book, I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick D. Barnes.
Community outreach wasn’t the only thing the Within Reach
Foundation was able to accomplish this year. In October, Allen hosted his
annual An Evening Within Reach event fully virtually. The event featured live
entertainment by DJ Flipside and appearances from Allen and his fellow Bears
Wide Receivers. Guests enjoyed a stay-at-home steak dinner from Morton’s and bid
on dozens of once-in-a-lifetime auction packages. More than $117,000 was raised
through this virtual event, including a personal donation of $40,000.
2020 proved to be a challenging but successful year for Allen
Robinson’s Within Reach Foundation. The mixture of new and old programming
enriched the lives of thousands of people across the city of Chicago. In spite
of the uncertainty that 2020 brought with it, Within Reach Foundation sponsors
and donors came through in a big way, creating a successful virtual event and
even an impactful hunger relief campaign. We are so grateful for the continued
support we receive in the community and look forward to changing even more
lives in 2021!
|
|
|
|
Blog Categories
Allen Robinson Blog
01/08/2021 - Allen Robinson Launches New M
12/17/2020 - Look What You Helped Us Accomp
12/09/2020 - Watch Allen Robinson Participa
12/03/2020 - Allen Robinson to Wear Within
10/21/2020 - Allen Robinson Raises More Tha
09/04/2020 - Within Reach Foundation Launch
06/17/2020 - Allen Robinson Named Bears' 20
05/13/2020 - $10,000 Raised to Provide PPE
03/24/2020 - Allen Robinson to Host Hunger
01/02/2020 - NFL Foundation Awards $5,000 S
05/07/2019 - Local Boys & Girls Club Receiv
12/13/2018 - Allen Robinson Raises More tha
12/05/2018 - Bears Receiver Allen Robinson
07/11/2018 - Within Reach Foundation Awarde
12/14/2017 - Receiver Allen Robinson Holds
10/04/2017 - Local Boys & Girls Club Receiv
|
Tag Cloud
|
|
|
| |