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Volunteers with rappelling knowledge needed FOR Beatitude House fundraiser
YOUNGSTOWN
Wanted: Daring people willing to raise $1,000 or more to secure a chance to rappel down the outside of the tallest building in downtown Youngstown to benefit Beatitude House.
The “Over the Edge for Beatitude House” fundraiser gives individuals an opportunity to rappel down the 224-foot high Metropolitan Tower in central square downtown Sept. 25 and 26.
Beatitude House is celebrating its 25th year serving homeless and disadvantaged women and children in Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties by providing housing and support services aimed at making its clients more self-reliant and their lives more stable.
For information, visit www.beatitudehouse.com or call 330-744-3147.
Registration is underway to give interested people time to raise the funds needed to rappel. To register, visit the Over the Edge for Beatitude House website at www.overtheedgeusa.com/signup. There also will be a drop-zone block party.
No experience is necessary to rappel. Technicians from Over-the-Edge, which helps nonprofit organizations raise money by having participants rappel down tall buildings, teach participants everything they need to know the day of the event, organizers said.
However, “skilled” volunteers, people who are familiar with rappelling, are needed to supplement the expert rappellers and technicians who train participants and staff the ropes during the event.
For example, a registered rappeller will be trained at the ground school before their scheduled rappel. They will be fitted with the gear and get a feel for the mechanics under the supervision of paid technicians. Then they will be escorted from the ground school to the Metropolitan building, go through security and be taken up to the roof, event organizers said.
As a perk for their service, skilled volunteers are offered an opportunity to rappel the building without the fundraising requirement; and be one of the approximately 100 people who can say they conquered the building. Also, they are invited to a VIP reception Sept. 25.
Skilled volunteers need to be available Sept. 25 for advance training and work the event on Sept. 25 and 26, organizers said.
To be a rope (only) volunteer, visit www.overtheedgeusa.com/signup.
According to organizers, Over the Edge for Beatitude House sponsors include Home Savings, Compco Industries Supports Empowering Women Mahoning Valley, Cohen & Co., First National Bank and Better Business Bureau of Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.