LOWELL, Mass. – For the Love of Erika is the winner of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union’s National Nonprofit Day Campaign. The organization received a $2,018 donation as the winning prize.
Taylor Goodman-Leong, 19 of Westford, Mass. started the organization when she was just seven years old in memory of her childhood friend, Erika, who passed away from brain cancer at age seven.
Over the past 13 years, For the Love of Erika has donated 14,000 toys and gifts to children in hospitals and shelters all across New England, as well as those in the Department of Children & Families. The organization also hosts holiday parties for homeless shelters in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
“I feel really honored to be selected. When I found out, I was super surprised and I had no idea, but I know this donation is going to help For the Love of Erika a lot,” said Goodman-Leong. “With monetary donations, it’s really helpful and beneficial because we can get toys we’re in need of, and it can help out with the holiday parties we have,” she added.
Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union ran the Nonprofit Day Campaign from July 23rd through August 10th as a way to celebrate National Nonprofit Day, which was held on August 17th. Community members nominated their favorite local nonprofits for the chance to win. The Credit Union received 211 nominations in total.
“It is an honor to name For the Love of Erika as our Nonprofit Day Campaign winner,” said Mark S. Cochran, president and Chief Executive Officer of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union. “We are very impressed by Taylor’s story and her commitment to bringing joy to children in our local community. At Jeanne D’Arc, we are dedicated to supporting non-profit organizations that assist our neighbors in need.”