Iron Chef Winners Cook-off

press release: New this year: "Master" Chef Competition!

Everyone loves our spring Iron Chef event and we're inviting our winners from spring to compete with their favorite dish (just one this time!) and battle it out for bragging rights at the inaugural annual championship!!! You'll get to vote on their fate and fame and we'll see you comes out on top!!!

2016's Adventure!

Here at the Tenant Resource Center it seems we are always on some adventure... and 2016 is no different! Yes, 2016 started off with a devastating $90,000 funding cut (nearly 1/3 of our budget)... and another set of law changes from the state legislature... making us once again redo all our training materials and written materials for our clients and our website.

However! We successfully got new grants from the City! We started an eviction clinic at small claims court where we can actually give tenants advice as they are going into their hearings (about $16,000). We updated our materials (about $14,000) and we started a Rapid Rehousing Program for transgender and long-time homeless persons ($35,000 for staff and $35,000 to pay for housing costs). We will also soon have an on-line sales section on our website with training guides, sample letters and forms and videos.

If you were doing the math (extra credit!) you can see we have nearly made up that $90,000 cut. However, we're still a bit short. We normally raise $10,000 - 12,000 at our fall fundraiser. This year, our goal is $15,000 - 20,000. So, we're asking you, our loyal supporters to give a little extra this year, if you can, by sponsoring our event (donate in advance in any amount - suggested $35, $50, $75, $100 or more, but any amount appreciated, your name goes on invitation to show support) we would very much appreciate it!!!

To sponsor, simply

1.  Pledge (reply to this email and let me know the amount)

2.  Donate on line

3.  Send a check (let Brenda know its coming so you get listed): Tenant Resource Center, 1202 Williamson Street, Suite 102, Madison, WI 53703

4.  Donate through Community Shares (let Brenda know its coming so you get listed)

5.  Become a sustainer! (A small monthly donation helps us manage cash flow and gets you automatically listed as a sponsor for our events!)

Other ways you can help with the fundraiser include:

1.  Volunteering (see below)

2.  Donate a silent auction item (see below)

3.  Donate a food item (from a commercial kitchen) (see below)

Other ways you can help . . .

Donate an item to the silent auction! Are you an artist or craftsperson? A local business? Can you teach piano, or bake a dozen cookies? Our silent auction brings in the most creative prizes and local gifts in town -- let us know what you can contribute!

Don't know what to make or give? Donate food or a gift card from your favorite restaurant!

Volunteer for Housing Counseling! Work directly with clients and help them solve their housing problems! This is engaging and highly rewarding work, with a minimum commitment of only 3 hours/week for a year, and we provide extensive training and support. We are holding our fall training September 24 and 25.

Donate skills for office work! Looking for a more casual role than housing counseling? We need help with administrative tasks!