Sunday, September 8, 2024
Katy Offutt
FORWARD TRAINING CENTER
Katy Offutt is executive director of Forward Training Center of Hood County. Her community leadership roles include: Help Ministry coordinator, Stonewater Church; alumnus and past president, Leadership Granbury; vice president, Granbury Housing Authority; president, Public Facility Corporation; Nominating Committee chair, LGMA; and volunteer with Ada Carey Center.
Fundraising can be one of most daunting or exhilarating words a nonprofit wants to contemplate. Evaluating the organization’s financial foundation and acquiring the funds necessary to provide no cost tuition for educational programs to the public, without receiving any state or federal funding, can be a challenge.
Forward Training Center’s sources of income come from individuals, families, churches, businesses, small grants and fundraisers. To find the perfect theme for our newly named organization, Forward Training Center needed to carefully craft a fundraiser to celebrate our students, honor our donors and portray the heart of our mission of leaving a lasting impression of redemptive love.
Laurie Lilly, our program director, came up with the perfect way to illustrate this through our signature winter gala, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
From Laurie: “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a story of redemption. When searching for a vision that exemplified the mission of Forward Training Center, I reflected on the classic movie that has remained the same in the hearts of people throughout the years. How many people experience challenges in their lives that cause them to lose their sense of value and take them down a road of destruction, only to receive God’s vision through an angel that allows them to reflect on how much they are loved? FTC wants each student to experience a place of hope and value. This “It’s a Wonderful Life” gala provides a setting that brings the story to life each year for all to experience”
The theme was intentionally chosen to represent Forward Training Center and bring exhilaration to the word fundraising. This event is the primary source of our annual funding for operational and programing expenses.
This year we are proud to present the award-winning Granbury High School Choir as our spectacular entertainment, and fine dining will be provided by Hard Eight Catering.
We are a 501 (c)(3) tax deductible organization. The education we offer the public equips our youth and adult with knowledge and tools to utilize their talents toward a career path of self-efficiency resulting in meaningful employment and further learning opportunities for our future leaders.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Lunch and Learn, 600 W. Pearl St. Building B
Nov. 16, Dr.Calvin Lawrence: Bless be the Tie that Binds -- bridging gaps between families, businesses and communities. You will not want to miss this opportunity as Dr. Lawrence ties up the conclusion of our Fall 3-part Lunch and Learn series. calvinlawencespeaks.net
Dec. 8, “It’s a Wonderful Life” gala, 5:30 p.m., La Bella Luna, 817-939-3351.
Join Forward Training Center’s momentum and follow next month’s milestone.
katy@forwardtrainingcenter.org | 817 219-5655
