A new home-grown app is on the market with a mission to support local fundraisers and businesses through a reward-points system.
After a friend and football coach said he was running out of ideas to raise funds for team jerseys, travel expenses and equipment, Airdronian Leon Cygman developed Airdrie Gives, an app he thinks could be the solution.
“They did a lot of bottle drives and they got tired of doing [them] because you can only get so many bottles in Airdrie,” Cygman said. “Frankly speaking, I get annoyed at people coming by my house every second weekend, asking me for bottles.”
According to Cygman, his friend said linking the team to a business would be ideal as it would help the team raise needed money.
“Businesses are hurting and that has a ripple effect to the fundraising community,” Cygman said in a release. “As businesses face a downturn in their revenue, they have less money to contribute to local initiatives.”
Airdrie Gives links local businesses with community charities and not-for-profits, by allowing residents to see what fundraising initiatives local vendors support.
Once consumers download the app, available at Google Play or the Apple App Store, they have access to all vendor-supported fundraisers and can support a cause simply by choosing which vendor gets their purchasing dollar. In turn, businesses set revenue goals and, once that has been reached, the vendor makes a donation to the local not-for-profit of its choice. In this way, according to the release, fundraising initiatives can also help drive consumers towards business partners.
By tapping on a local business, users can see information about the store, such as its hours of operation, location, website and contact information. Users of the app will also see how many “points” – earned through customer purchases at the business – the vendor requires before donating to the non-profit it supports. Additionally, app users will see how close a fundraising goal is to being completed.
Cygman said he hopes is the app will help non-profit and charity groups earn money by becoming “marketers” for the businesses that support them.
“People have a choice as to where to spend their consumer dollar,” he said. “The app encourages people to shop at businesses that are supportive of raising money for community needs.”
Fred Burley, owner of Innovative Bed Systems, said he decided to sign on with Airdrie Gives as a way to continue supporting his community.
“We view this as a way to give back and, if it results in a good response, we’ll be able to give even more,” he said.
“We’re going to split our donations, with half going to the Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie – my wife is on the board – and the other half to the Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society. From my time on council, both of these not-for-profits have been near and dear to our hearts.”
Other Airdrie businesses already signed up with the Airdrie Gives, according to the release, include Advance Print and Copy, Airdrie Exchange and WHITEDOGDesign Fibrearts. Community groups that will be supported by these businesses include the Cochrane and Area Humane Society – which serves Airdrie – Airdrie Meals on Wheels, the Airdrie and District Foundation, and Airdrie Hospice Society.
As an Airdrie resident for the past five years, Cygman said, he’s seen how giving the community is and hopes he can help further that.
“It’s my way to help not only businesses, but fundraisers to establish that relationship and encourage people to shop locally – to shop at stores that support fundraising initiatives,” he said.
Airdrie Gives officially launched Aug. 2, and is sponsored by Here’s the Scoop, which is providing printing services, Cygman said, and covering some of the start-up costs.
“I’m really excited,” he said. “It’s kind of like giving birth to my first baby. This was my first app I’ve ever developed.”
For more information, visit airdriegives.ca
