2019 Top-Rated Nonprofit

FT Cares Foundation

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Human Services

Mission: To provide monetary relief and other assistance to individuals and families who have healthcare, shelter, nutrition, education, and other similar needs, and to provide grants to other exempt organizations that provide assistance for such families and individuals.

Community Stories

20 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

NMTricia Client Served

Rating: 5

10/10/2024

FT Cares has been supporting the work of my nonprofit, Normal Moments, for years. When the original sponsor for our Holiday Meals program for families financially challenged by the needs of their medically complex/challenged children, FT Cares stepped in and has been a consistent friend to Normal Moments and the families we serve. The staff is incredible and their support is critical to our community!

jmiller0115 Client Served

Rating: 5

10/04/2019

FT Cares has gone above and beyond in supporting our organization. When we first talked to FT Cares about our needs they set up a multi-tiered donation that addressed many of our ongoing technology needs to support our children and our mission. Additionally, they have gone above financial contributions by supporting our school events with their presence as a member of the community. FT Cares is an amazing partner and very valued by all at Clare Woods Academy!

World Relief Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 4

10/01/2019

World Relief has worked with FT Cares on a few projects, and one thing we appreciate about them is their desire to build relationships with the people and organizations they partner with. They want to be sure that they are being good stewards of their resources, and that they support work that empowers people. With World Relief, they have worked to increase the number of Savings groups around the world, that empower mainly women in extreme poverty conditions, to be able to do things they never thought possible: pay for their children's school, start a small business, or begin building their first home. The people at FT Cares get excited when they see how they can create lasting change for other people!

dswincher Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/25/2019

The buzz of anticipation was heard at Saint Louise House days before the washers and dryers were scheduled to arrive. It was just one sign of the palpable excitement surrounding the arrival and installation of washers and dryers in the apartment homes of our Saint Louise House families, thanks to the FT Cares Foundation.

The excitement was warranted. The washers and dryers are making a real difference in the everyday lives of the mothers and children at Saint Louise House. The only on-site laundry facility at this complex has been one, single washer and dryer accessible only during program office hours. That’s one washer and one dryer for as many as 24 families including anywhere from 24 to 96 children. The lack of laundry facilities has meant that mothers have had to hope that the machines would be free during times when they were not at work or at school or otherwise supporting their children single-handedly, or they have had to find transportation and time to go to the laundromat, usually with children in tow. For the single mothers at Saint Louise House, getting the laundry done each week has been just one more challenge to overcome.

All that changed with the installation of a washer and dryer in each apartment. Mothers will now be able to do laundry in their own homes. No more scrounging for quarters for the laundromat. No more carving out hours each week to spend doing laundry out of the home. Families now have more time to spend together and work toward goals that will strengthen self-sufficiency.

We see these washers and dryers as a big step forward in making every day less of a burden for Saint Louise House families. We are very grateful to FT Cares Foundation and First Trust Portfolios. Our experience with the FT Cares Foundation has been simply amazing. Over the past three years, First Trust has worked with us to identify thoughtful, creative ways to support the families living at Saint Louise House. They started small, with a donation of pantry items and toiletries. Their involvement has grown, and they have completely outdone themselves this year by raising the funds to purchase and install washers and dryers in all 24 apartments at one Saint Louise House property, as well as provide a year’s worth of laundry supplies to each family.

We are grateful to FT Cares Foundation and First Trust Portfolios for investing in Saint Louise House families by funding the purchase and installation of washers and dryers in every apartment. It's a 5 Star scale or we'd rate you a 10!

Mikeespo Board Member

Rating: 5

09/24/2019

Lisa Weirs from the FT cares foundation came to visit our community of Cuna Maya Mexico and saw the love and concern we had for the families of that community. We have a full time Christian Academy and a weekend day school to give the children of that community a quality education thus adding dignity and value to every students life. She asked what are needs were and we needed a library, FT Cares foundation built us a library. She came the next year and asked the same question, we needed an infirmary to medically treat the families of our community, FT Cares foundation built out an infirmary for us. The following year they built out an industrial kitchen so we could provide quality food for our community and this year they donated $60,000.00 to help us purchase the property for all our school and community buildings. The FT Cares foundation has been a catalyst for all of our education programs which has helped us educate hundreds of children and bring health care to their families.

papichulo0929 Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/23/2019

FT Cares Foundation help assists Milton Township with several different holiday drives: Thanksgiving, Christmas, & Summer. Without there support we couldn't of assist our low income families . They also warm generous . Give huge thanks to Jane Doyle & Lisa Wierer both caring & compassionate individuals .

1

cschwarz Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/20/2019

FT Cares Foundation is a great partner to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas. When they opened an office in our community they reached out to ask us how they could support our families. At that time we wanted to start a program where we provided "Family Overnight Care Bags" that were filled with a change of clothes, basic toiletries and other comfort items for parents who end up unexpectedly at the Children's Hospital for multiple days when their child is admitted through the emergency department. FT Cares Foundation stepped forward immediately and said they would pilot this with us. They bought all the items and their staff assembled 50+ bags for our families. In addition, they created a list of the items with links to on-line purchasing sources that our organization could then share with other corporate groups who wanted to help with this program. In addition to this, FT Cares has been an underwriter for our annual gala and has volunteered as meal providers and deep cleaning crews at the Ronald McDonald House. Their team has given our families so much!

1

mdemuir Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/19/2019

The FT Cares Foundation has been an incredible blessing to the young women and children we serve in Jubilee Village, a transitional housing program in DuPage County for homeless youth. As the director of Jubilee Village, I work with our young residents (women 18-24, who are either parenting one child or pregnant with their first child), who were formerly homeless. For these young women, holidays can be especially difficult, which is when the FT Cares Foundation stepped in. In preparation for Thanksgiving, each year they prepare beautiful food baskets for our residents, filled with everything needed to make a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner. In addition, they include a very generous gift card to Jewel so that the residents can purchase the turkey, and whatever else they desire, to make the day special.

Each day is a struggle for our young mothers, but the Thanksgiving food baskets and gift cards help them to know that there are people who genuinely care about them. The generosity of the FT Cares Foundation is a tremendous help to our young moms, and is also an encouragement to those of us who work with the residents. We are very grateful to them for making it possible, each Thanksgiving, for our young families to receive much needed food baskets and wonderfully generous gift cards. The FT Cares Foundation is making a difference and touching the lives of many.

1

adaeschler Client Served

Rating: 5

09/19/2019

CASA Kane County has been involved with FT Cares Foundation for numerous years. We have been a beneficiary of Light the Torch. We appreciate the generosity of this foundation that supports many of our events. FT Cares is out in the community always making a difference. Lisa Weir has been very supportive of CASA Kane County and goes above and beyond. Together we are making a difference in the lives of the vulnerable children we serve in our community.

1

charmain5 Client Served

Rating: 5

09/19/2019

This organization is amazing my cousin told them about us, they stepped in and helped me get my daughter Quincey some medical equipment that our insurance denied! They have “adopted” my girl and have been such a blessing.. They have stepped in for years to help. They have such a giving caring heart. Thank you just isn’t enough!!

1

SCARCE Client Served

Rating: 5

09/19/2019

The FT Cares Foundation helped us replace a broken-beyond-repair pallet jack, replace the battery to our only motorized pallet jack (it is unbelievable but sadly true that we have only 2 pallet jacks and they broke on the same day) and purchase a safety bulkhead for our van so that the supplies we rescue (books, musical instruments and other much needed items that help kids reach their potential) don't fly forward into the driver's and passenger's area if we need to slam on the brakes. Lisa from the FT Cares Foundation had just visited our facility and offered to help. She had no idea we were going to need help so quickly but she responded quickly. The donation we received helped us during one of our busiest times of the year.

One of the things I really appreciated is the amount of time Lisa was able to spend at our not-for-profit. We have a lot of sustainability projects going on at all times. She took the time to really get to know why we do what we do and how we do all of these important projects.

Our work makes a difference for kids, the environment and the future all at the same time! The FT Cares Foundation helped us just in the nick of time so we didn't have to miss a beat! Heartfelt thanks to FT Cares Foundation.

1

gardenworksproject Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/19/2019

FT Cares is a forward-thinking organization that is conscientious about impacting the community on a holistic level. It's a fantastic model to follow and we as an organization were fortunate to receive from them this year.

ffetchet Board Member

Rating: 5

09/18/2019

The team at FT Cares Foundation took time to understand our nonprofit, Voices of September 11th and who we serve. They better understood the need and the gap that exists in social services support. Lisa and Jane took time to meet with us in person in NYC and helped us better understand their foundation. In addition we joined in their annual Light the Torch 5K Night Run which is amazing in itself. Their funding helped us to continue to help others through a broad array of social services support.

The FT Cares Foundation is a caring organization led by Lisa and continues to make an impact through their philanthropy.

1

kellylynnea Client Served

Rating: 5

09/18/2019

FT Cares Foundation has been integral to our success as a non-profit. 2 years ago, Ft Cares Foundation became a part of Special Spaces mission by creating a dream bedroom makeover for a little girl named Emma. Together we changed her life one bedroom at a time. Since then, they have not only helped change more children's lives but they have been integral in helping plan our strategic growth and have been instrumental in the development of programs to help us continue to say YES to every deserving child. FT Cares truly exemplifies their mission to transform lives​, locally, nationally and globally. Thank you FT Cares for your belief in our mission and for truly caring and changing the world, one act of kindness at a time.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qVxvBH1FLRARrFFaA

1

tricia Client Served

Rating: 5

09/17/2019

It is a privilege run a nonprofit within the same community as FT Cares Foundation. They have consistently supported our fundraising efforts and programs. Recently, however, one of the moms we support (single parent to 4 kids, 3 with CP) was diagnosed with breast cancer and had numerous other medical and life complications occur all at once. FT Care turned around the grant application I submitted on behalf of this parent in record time, providing her with funding to address some critical immediate needs, allowing her to focus on quality time with her children and her own cancer battle without nearly as much exterior stress. Donations to FT Cares don't just help a single cause - they spread throughout the community to touch more lives than most organizations can. A donation to FT Cares is well-placed and meritorious!

1

leaj Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/17/2019

The FT Cares Foundation has been an amazing partner to Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) for many years. The support FT Cares provides allows WDSRA to support individuals with special needs, strengthen their families, and also to build community for those with and without special needs. Year after year the FT Cares Foundation contributes significantly in support of both the agency's signature fund raising event as well as the Charlie Long/WDSRA Golf Classic. FT Cares Foundation support assists WDSRA in raising funds that provide for scholarships, special equipment purchases, general program support, and many other agency needs. WD's vision: "Opening a world of untapped potential and a lifetime of possibilities" applies not only to those individuals served, but for all who come into contact with the agency! The FT Cares Foundation helps WDSRA impact the lives of thousands in a positive, encouraging way.

1

susannahyount Client Served

Rating: 5

09/17/2019

FT Cares Foundation has be instrumental in helping our organization, By The Hand Club For Kids ,grow and reach more children from some of Chicago's most under-resourced communities in Chicago. They are helping us serve over 1,500 children that live in Cabrini-Green, Altgeld-Murray, Austin and Englewood some of the nation's poorest neighborhoods - economically and academically. Without By The Hand many of these children would grow up without hope in the midst of violence, poverty, and despair. All of the children that enter our program begin as children who are failing in reading. This past year 86% of our kids finished the year with all passing grades.

FT Cares has helped us with volunteers, in-kind gifts such as school supplies and backpacks and financial support. Jane and Lisa are also so incredibly encouraging. THANK YOU FT Cares Foundation for investing in our children here in Chicago!

1

tincup5252 Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

09/17/2019

We are a nonprofit [DGTT Foundation] that has worked with FT Cares for 3 years on various local projects. Recently, Lisa Weier, Development Director/FT Cares made us aware of a single mom who has 4 children, 3 of whom have cerebral palsy. The mother is going through chemotherapy treatment after a double-mastectomy for bi-lateral breast cancer. FT Cares was trying to figure out a way to help. I reached out to another social service agency to see if there is anything that can be done to help this single mom. I haven't heard back from the other agency yet, but this is a prime example of how FT is involved in making a difference.

1

LKsunshine General Member of the Public

Rating: 5

09/17/2019

What a great organization! They are always looking to find opportunities to help others in any way that they can, especially those that need it most. Their fundraising opportunities help so many people and have undoubtedly impacted many, many people across the world. Highly recommend! The FT Cares Foundation is truly one of the best!!

1

Sam P.5 Client Served

Rating: 5

09/17/2019

FT Cares Foundation is simply incredible. They are relationship builders and focused on improving so many lives in our community. For that, I am eternally grateful. Thank you, FT Cares Foundation.

Sam Provenzano
Vice President of Development at Haymarket Center

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