Each year in September, summer turns to fall and the school year is a few weeks underway. As last
year’s students stream back through our doors and as new students arrive, we often get questions of,
“how do you guys pay for all of this?”

We explain to the students that our funding comes through grants, foundations, and donations. We let
them know that each snack they eat, each canvas they paint on, is the result of hard work and
dedication to spread the news about what we do every day. Nothing is guaranteed, we say. Our work to
raise money to keep this all going never ends.

Each year in September we also have the privilege of participating in North Texas Giving Day. It is a
fantastic opportunity to spread the word about our mission and boost our fundraising so as to continue
our programming. Each year during those 18 hours we sit and we hope, we anxiously click the ‘refresh’
button to see what has come in, and we hold our breath with anticipation.

And wow! What a Giving Day we had this year! We were so pleased and humbled to have raised over
$50,000, enabling the additional match of $25,000 from our generous donors, Dorothy and Russell
Budd. This was more than twice what was raised last year and we rejoiced with gratitude at this
outpouring of support.

Each dollar we received reminded us that there are people who have their confidence in us and in the
work we do. Each dollar reminded our students that they are not forgotten, that there are so many who
believe in their dreams and support their futures. Each dollar added to our confidence that this is a
worthy endeavor and that we partner alongside so many others as we seek to impact the lives of high
school students.

To every donor, near and far, thank you. Thank you for believing in us, for believing in our students, and
for putting your confidence and your dollars into Incarnation House.

We are humbled.

And we are so very grateful.