When: October 26th/27th
Where: Jackson Park Ball Fields, Vienna, WV
Entry Fee: $25 per person (Prize package and trophy is awarded to the top fundraiser)
For questions about the event, please contact Michelle Pritchett at 304.485.0650
What is the Parkersburg Sleepout?
The Parkersburg Sleepout is a unique fundraising and awareness event held each year by the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia and other agencies nationwide,to shine a light on the issue of unsheltered youth in the Mid-Ohio Valley, as well as raise critical funds to provide housing assistance, life skills training, and intensive case management support to youth ages 16-21 who are struggling with homelessness. In Wood County in 2023 Children’s Home Society Transitional Living Program came into contact, and provided some level of service to nearly 300 unsheltered or at-risk youth. Since the inception of our program in 2009 our agency has been able to assist in providing shelter or support to 1,971 youth in the Mid-Ohio Valley region. Our program is not a hand out but a hand up for youth who are struggling to find their way without permanent,stable adult connections. Between 2022-2024 over 80% of post-program youth reported that they remain employed, sheltered and feel they are in a better place emotionally and physically because of the support they received through the Transitional Living Program.
What’s the point in pretending to be homeless? The Sleepout is not pretending to be homeless, it is meant as a way to expose the ever increasing issue of youth homelessness in the Mid-Ohio Valley and beyond, and to stand in solidarity with young adults who have for too long been forgotten and overlooked in the human service system. In West Virginia alone a 2023 study conducted through the Department of Education reported 13,530 youth had at least some experience with being unsheltered.
What will my donation be used for? All Sponsorships and donations above the cost of the event will be utilized 100% to assist youth with rental assistance and start-up, as well as life skills training, wrap-around support,and case management. All services of the Transitional Living Program are offered free of charge to clients for a period of up to 18 months as they acquire new skills to help them become fully independent.
We appreciate each and every donation. Without the ongoing support of this community we could not continue to provide these vital services, and we understand fully that that we cannot do this alone, we need you! You have the opportunity to make a difference for these young people that can change the entire course of their lives, just by becoming a part of this very important event. To become a sponsor, please refer to the attached form. Thank you for your commitment to the youth of this community.
Create a Team
Let’s team up to shine a light on and raise some cash for the youth without a roof over their heads in our community. Registration is 25.00 per person to join in this unique and inspiring event. Unleash your inner Picasso to craft a cozy shelter together! Trophies will be awarded to the team that has the most creative and inspiring design.
About the Box Design
Prepare to unleash your creativity at the Parkersburg Sleepout. It’s time to construct a cardboard “home” that not only sheds light on youth homelessness and raises awareness but also showcases creativity, uniqueness, provides shelter from the elements, and emanates a sense of warmth.
Acceptable Building Materials:
- Cardboard
- Props
- Sting or Rope
- Water based Markers
- Paper
- Tape
- Aluminum Foil
- Chalk
- Battery Powered Lights
Unacceptable Building Materials:
- Paint of any kind
- Permanent Markers
- Wood
- Glue
- Large Staples
**Tarps are recommended under or over box due to high chance of inclement weather. Box designs utilizing prohibited materials are not eligible for trophy contest.
To register for the 9th Annual Sleepout, please complete the form below.
Complete registration form by October 20, 2024
To purchase tickets please click on our paypal donate button.
***You do not have to have a PayPal account to donate via PayPal. PayPal accepts straight debt/credit cards as payment.***
***When making a PayPal payment, please use the “Please add special instructions to seller” text box on your paypal page to notify us where you would like your contribution to be noted. i.e., location, program, fundraiser, etc, etc.***
PayPal
Sponsorship Opportunities
By sponsoring this event, you’re not just supporting a cause, you are shouting from the rooftops your dedication to stamping out youth homelessness in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Every penny left goes straight to helping local youth battling homelessness, providing them with vital life services at zero cost to them.
As our housing programs are offered totally free for homeless and at-risk youth aged 16-21, we always need to put on our fundraising caps to keep these crucial services going. Your kind donations go straight to local youths in need, providing them with support, resources, and skills to rock their independence and become awesome members of our community.
We offer several different levels of sponsorship which will help us defray the cost of the event, as well as enabling us to continue to provide critical support for unsheltered youth in our community. If you would like to sponsor the 9th Annual Sleepout, please complete the form below.
Sponsorship checks can be mailed to:
Children’s Home Society of WV
P.O. Box 763
Parkersburg, WV 26102
Memo Line: Parkersburg Sleepout Sponsor
To pay for a sponsorship online, please use our paypal donate button below.
***You do not have to have a PayPal account to donate via PayPal. PayPal accepts straight debt/credit cards as payment.***
***When making a PayPal payment, please use the “Please add special instructions to seller” text box on your paypal page to notify us where you would like your contribution to be noted. i.e., location, program, fundraiser, etc, etc.***
PayPal
For More Information about this event, please contact us at 304.485.0650. Thank you again for helping us make the 9th Annual Parkersburg Sleepout a success.