The Community Foundation announced the Give 2 Network – a community-wide initiative to encourage collective business philanthropy – at the official ribbon-cutting for The Poppy, a new British Pub opening on North Side square in downtown Huntsville. The Give 2 concept was developed in collaboration with The Poppy’s owners who wish to strategically give back to our community, and are partnering with the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville to achieve their charitable objectives.
As the founding member of the Give 2 Network, The Poppy will immediately begin accumulating money in charitable funds to be administered by the Community Foundation. The parties agreed to make this a community-wide initiative and invite other businesses of all types to join together to make Give 2 a major source of charitable funding for local nonprofit initiatives.
“We strongly believe in giving back to the community that has supported us in our previous business endeavors, and who we feel will be the key to the success of The Poppy. We want to be proactive by helping launch and grow the Give 2 Network and encourage other business owners to join in this important community initiative,” stated David Clarke, one of the founding partners of The Poppy.
Stuart Obermann, CEO/President of the Community Foundation, added “This collective giving network has the potential to greatly expand the amount of charitable funding available to the hundreds of nonprofit organizations helping make our community a better place to live. The Give 2 Network allows businesses large and small to make a significant impact on our quality of life. We applaud David and the team at The Poppy for their vision and generosity in partnering with us on this unique and innovative initiative.”
Members of the Give 2 Network pledge to give 2% of net income each month to the Give 2 program at the Community Foundation. Half of the donations will go into a Give 2 business fund named after the business to benefit a specific charitable sector that aligns with the company’s values or interests (e.g., veterans’ issues, education, homelessness). The other half will go to the Community Foundation’s Catalyst Endowment fund, where it will be pooled with donations from other Give 2 Network members and other corporate and individual donors. Funds in the Catalyst Endowment are used to make high-impact grants each year to address the greatest needs of our community.
By joining Give 2, business are demonstrating to the public, and especially their customers, that they are community-minded and making a significant contribution to the local community through their strategic philanthropy. “We think our customers will appreciate the fact that we believe in our community and are sharing the fruits of The Poppy’s success to help others who live here,” said David.
To join or learn more about the Give 2 Network, contact Stuart Obermann at the Community Foundation – stuart@communityfoundationhsv.org
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER HUNTSVILLE
The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville serves as a catalyst for making our great community even better. Founded in 2009, the Community Foundation has distributed over $15.8M in grants to nonprofit organizations across the region, providing hundreds of corporate, family and individual donors with unique solutions to meet their charitable giving objectives in a tax-efficient manner. Visit communityfoundationhsv.org for more information.
ABOUT THE POPPY
Located at 117 North Side Square at the heart of downtown Huntsville, The Poppy is the first truly authentic British pub in the area and a great addition to the downtown district that serves a proper pint. The Poppy plays home to four “Beer Engines” pouring the traditional English style cask-conditioned ale, along with ten rotating imported draft beer selections, and a large selection of British and Domestic cans and bottles.
