Housing isn’t the number one thing people think of when it comes to stabilization and growth in a community, but it is in fact a critical part of a healthy community. Wyoming Housing Network had seen a large increase in clients served through our housing counseling programs. With the exponential growth in need for services and the unstable housing market, Wyoming Housing Network implemented 3 new housing counseling programs in the 2017 year, including rental counseling and foreclosure prevention.
Meanwhile, financial support from traditional government and philanthropic grant sources are declining not only in Wyoming but nationwide.
In the midst of these realities, Wyoming Housing Network has turned to unconventional fundraising methods.
With the help of My Country 95.5, Beacon Club and many generous donors came the creation of a live auction titled “Thankful Thursday” at the world famous Beacon Club. Thankful Thursday is a live auction fundraiser that takes place in a Country Western setting. Thankful Thursday helps to raise money and awareness for charities that are important to Natrona County and the surrounding area. Even though having a charity auction in a cowboy bar seems unusual the result for Wyoming Housing Network was unbelievable.
WHN’s staff took 3 months in procuring auction items from, teeth whitening to a whole pig including processing. The result was a fun and energetic event that helped raise $8,000 dollars to keep Casper a thriving community while helping families locate healthy, safe and affordable housing.
Wyoming Housing Network and Casper are fortunate to have such an unconventional fundraising method that is received well by Wyoming’s “Wild West” culture resulting, in millions of dollars being raised to aid local charities. With the help from the Thankful Thursday event Wyoming Housing Network can continue to strengthen Wyoming communities by providing quality resources and opportunities for people to reach their housing goals.
