$100,000 gift plus $200,000 matching gift

June 1, 2023, Shawnee, OK – The United Way of Pottawatomie County’s Shawnee Recovery Fund has received a $300,000 donation from Avedis Foundation, which will fund the cost of necessary repairs and rebuilding efforts for citizens’ homes and other unmet community needs of those affected by the April 19, 2023 Shawnee Tornado. The F2 tornado affected over 1,800 homes of residents in the Shawnee area.  FEMA estimated approximately 50% of homes in the affected areas were not insured; of those insured, some are still under-insured.

$200,000 of the contribution is a challenge gift from Avedis Foundation to double the impact of your donation. For every gift received, another gift will be made of the same amount until the $200,000 total gift match is raised.    

“On behalf of Avedis Foundation and the board of directors, we are honored to make this gift to the Shawnee Recovery Fund.  We hope our matching gift will encourage others to contribute, no matter the amount.  Every dollar is needed to help our citizens and families rebuild and in doing so, restore hope for the future,” said Dr. Kathy Laster, Ph.D MBA President & CEO Avedis Foundation.

“United Way of Pottawatomie County is honored to receive this major gift and matching challenge from Avedis Foundation. Collaboration is key as we respond to this disaster. United Way is in a position to mobilize resources that individuals from all of the country are giving from their hearts,” said Sandy Vanderburg, executive director of UWPC. “United Way leadership will be working with community partners over the next several months to determine the best opportunities for these funds to support long-term recovery.   

Donors can give online at unitedwaypottco.org/shawnee-recovery or mail a check with “Shawnee Recovery Fund” in the memo, to UWPC, P.O. Box 697, Shawnee, OK 74802.

Additional Information: 

United Way of Pottawatomie County is a local and independently operated 501c3 serving Pottawatomie, Seminole and Lincoln County and serves 21 partner agencies.

The United Way of Pottawatomie County local mission is to strengthen communities by mobilizing resources to collaborate for the common good.