Groupon focuses on local nonproifit as "Community Partner of the Week"
GROUPON® has chosen Arlington Heights-based nonprofit Escorted Transportation Service Northwest (ETS/NW) as their featured "Community Partner" of the week, October 15 - 21. http://www.groupon.com/deals/escorted-transportation-service-northwest.
Groupon Grassroots - the philanthropic arm of Groupon, has launched a campaign today to support Escorted Transportation Service Northwest's outstanding volunteer drivers. Available today (October 15) through Sunday, October 21, 2012, Groupon's campaign will help ETS/NW raise funds to purchase gas cards for its volunteer drivers as a small token of appreciation for everything they do for the organization.
Escorted Transportation Service Northwest’s volunteers provide their own cars -- without reimbursement – to drive local senior citizens to crucial medical appointments in the northwest suburbs. A service unique to the community, the ETS/NW volunteer picks the senior up at home, drives them to the appointment, waits with them, and then returns them home again, also stopping at a pharmacy to collect a prescription if necessary.
ETS/NW, founded in 2006, provides rides for seniors to/from their life-sustaining medical and dental appointments. To date, ETS/NW has provided over 13,872 round-trip rides to more than 900 seniors in the northwest suburban area.
Utilizing Groupon Grassroots’ collective action model, new and current Groupon subscribers can pledge support for ETS/NW’s dedicated volunteer drivers. If at least 100 people each donate $7, ETS/NW will be able to purchase 50 $14 gas cards as tokens of appreciation for its volunteer drivers. If more money is donated, each volunteer will receive a larger dollar value gas card.
“We are excited to employ the collective action model of Groupon Grassroots to raise support for ETS/NW and its outstanding volunteers,” said Lynndah Easterwood Lahey, ETS/NW’s Executive Director. “We look forward to creating new awareness for Escorted Transportation Service Northwest as one of the local organizations in Chicago to be featured on Groupon Grassroots.”
100% percent of the Groupon Grassroots campaign proceeds will be used to provide gas cards to ETS/NW’s many volunteer drivers as a small token of appreciation.
ETS/NW’s volunteers cover a 160-square mile area in the northwest suburbs, including five major medical centers. Boundaries for service are Lake Cook Rd (N), Barrington Rd (W), Biesterfield Rd (S) and Greenwood Ave (E). At least one week’s advance notice is required and passengers must be at least 60 to participate. Both passenger and appointment must be located within our boundaries. A $12 donation is requested for each round-trip ride. Volunteer drivers are not reimbursed for their time or gas, making the program truly a labor of love.
For more information, contact ETS/NW at 847.222.9227, or visit the Groupon Grassroots ETS/NW campaign website: http://www.groupon.com/deals/excorted-transportation-service-northwest.