April 09, 2020
Content sponsored by
Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board/for PhillyVoice
The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) has launched a #MontCoStrong t-shirt fundraiser to help support Montgomery County, PA’s COVID-19 Response Fund, which was recently established to support local relief efforts in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The VFTCB designed the shirt, and is partnering with DJB Specialities, Inc., a VFTCB member in North Wales that specializes in custom apparel and promotional products, to sell them for $25 apiece. To order a shirt, please visit https://www.valleyforge.org/montco-strong-t-shirts/, or https://www.djbspecialties.com/showrooms.htm.
All of the proceeds from the #MontCoStrong t-shirt sales will be donated to the MontcoPA COVID-19 Response Fund, which will exclusively assist community safety net organizations critically impacted by the current public health crisis, such as those serving low-income and food-insecure residents, senior citizens, veterans, homeless and homebound individuals.
DJB is working in temporary office space, and constructing a state-of-the-art facility after suffering a catastrophic loss to a fire in February. The staff at DJB’s facility is wearing gloves and masks at all times. All items will be handled using COVID-19 guidelines as issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The health and well-being of our residents remains our top priority, and we wanted to do something to show our support and a sign of solidarity to help rally and unite the community,” said Mike Bowman, President & CEO of the VFTCB. “We want everyone to know that they’re not alone. We are truly all in this together, and we will pull through.”
The VFTCB is asking people to share who they’re #MontCoStrong for by posting images of themselves wearing the shirts on social media. The organization is also continuing to raise awareness and remind folks to support local businesses through blog content on its website, social media channels, and billboards.
“As marketers, our role is to communicate the features, benefits, and reasons to believe in our products and experiences,” said Edward Harris, Chief Marketing Officer for the VFTCB. “In times like these, it’s important for us to leverage our voice to remind people to support our local small business community that makes Montco such a special place. Ordering carry out and buying gift cards can help keep our businesses open, and purchasing these new #MontcoStrong t-shirts will support the community.”
The MontcoPA COVID-19 Response Fund is a partnership between Montgomery County HealthSpark Foundation, Montgomery County Foundation, Inc., VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn, BLBB Charitable, AmerisourceBergen Foundation, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, Inc., Genuardi Family Foundation, and Philanthropy Network of Greater Philadelphia, and the County’s three nonprofit collaboratives BuxMont Collaborative, TriCounty Community Network, and the Interagency Council of Norristown are also founding partners. The partners have seeded the fund with $250,000, but more donations will be needed to meet the demand.
If people want to make a tax deductible donation directly to the fund, they can do so online at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19 , or by check payable to Montgomery County Foundation, Inc., with MontcoPA COVID-19 Response Fund in the memo, and mailed to Montgomery County Foundation, Inc., 4 Sentry Parkway, #302, Blue Bell, PA 19422. The Montgomery County Foundation, Inc.’s EIN is 23-3070457.*
