According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 82.1 percent of persons with a disability are unemployed. The Lily Pad Cafe will run as a not-for-profit restaurant and is focused on employing and training individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to give them the work skills and confidence necessary to obtain employment with other businesses. The cafe will also work with local restaurants and retail establishments so cafe employees can seamlessly transition to employment opportunities with these partners.
To cover the costs of the building, renovation and initial start-up, The Lily Pad Cafe Building Campaign kicked off in September of 2020 with a goal of raising $500,000. We began this campaign with $160,000 being raised through the annual Run Up for Downs and have been able to raise over $600,000 thanks to several extremely generous donations from local businesses and the generosity of individual donations from the community. We exceeded our $500,000 goal for our Building Campaign, which has allowed us to begin fundraising to help cover the initial start up costs as well as operating costs. Our goal is to raise a year's worth. There are sponsorships still available to support The Lily Pad in opening our doors.
Supporters can sponsor a brick or a table, and corporations can also purchase naming rights for one of the Lily Pad dining room spaces by filling out the form here for more information.
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
If you or your organization/company would like to volunteer and help us with some sweat equity to make the Lily Pad a reality, click here to see when and what we need help with.
The Lily Pad Building Campaign Fundraising Goal : $500,000
The Lily Pad Pre-Opening Operation Fundraising Goal : $400,000
Last Updated: June 2022
*Fundraising goal does not factor in current operational expenditures.
Sponsor a Brick
Don't miss your chance to leave your mark on The Lily Pad outdoor patio! Whether you are a business and want to laser engrave your logo OR are a family that wants to include their family name on a brick, there is an option for every person with every budget. We have a 4x8, 12x12 and 16x16 option to choose from below!
Sponsor a Table
Don't miss your chance to have your logo (or maybe even your child's or family's name) laser engraved on the center of one of our dining tables! This will be a permanent sponsorship, so a 1-time payment will leave a lasting mark and will help us get that much closer to hitting our Building Campaign goal! Our indoor tables will be stained, sealed and then epoxied to protect the table and your mark!
Naming Rights
Our Naming Rights opportunities range from our building, to the patio, to the Lily Pad fountain and our 3 dining room spaces. Each opportunity is for a 5-year period unless otherwise agreed upon and includes several additional benefits. Each opportunity has the option to pay in installments over a 5-year period OR if 100% is paid upfront, a sponsored table will be provided at no additional cost. Naming Rights opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click on each opportunity below for more information about each:
Sponsor will receive Exclusive Naming rights to the Lily Pad Cafe Building. For more information and complete list of benefits, click here.
Sponsor will receive Exclusive Naming rights to the Upper Meeting Room in the Lily Pad Cafe. For more information and complete list of benefits, click here.
Questions?
Please use the button to the right or email us at brent@thelilypadms.com with any questions/concerns!