NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Raintree Children & Family Services, a local non-profit that helps at-risk children and youth in the Greater New Orleans region, is announcing a matching gift challenge sponsored by the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust.
The Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust will donate up to $25,000 to Raintree’s group home for adolescent foster girls. The donation is a dollar for dollar matching gift that will be used to offer Raintree House residents technological tools, personal tutoring, and therapeutic group sessions to succeed in both their academic and personal goals.
Raintree’s Executive Director LaShawna Schofield shared her excitement about the matching gift challenge, “We are grateful to the team at Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable. Since 2015, they have been dedicated to supporting and educating our girls at Raintree House.” LaShawna continued, “The matching gift campaign will ensure Raintree can continue providing quality programming for the residents of Raintree House, especially during these challenging times.”
In 2017, the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust donated funds to build a state-of-the-art computer lab and learning center at Raintree House, a group home for adolescent foster girls. Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trustees Lisa Romano and Vincent Giardina have been by Raintree’s side every step of the way. “The Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust supports Raintree Children & Family Services because of the services they provide to children and young adults in the New Orleans area” said Trustees Lisa Romano and Vincent Giardina.
Since its dedication, the learning center has served as a safe space for countless foster girls at Raintree House to learn and grow as they prepare for an independent future. The learning center is even more important now as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis has required Raintree House to implement virtual learning for its residents. Raintree’s goal is to double the match to $50,000 to increase services provided to the girls at Raintree House. Donations made to Raintree Children & Family Services by December 31, 2020 are eligible for matching, including gifts made online or by mail. Donors can make gifts online at www.raintreeservices.org/donate-online or mail checks to Raintree Children & Family Services, 1233 Eighth St., New Orleans, LA 70115.