COLUMBUS, Ind. — Forget the fact that the weather forecast for March 4 calls for a high of more than 50 degrees — Columbus residents Melissa and John Fairbanks are determined to make that day warm in another way.
They will don their ski wear and knit caps, light their backyard fire pit and enjoy a wintry celebration and, well, just chill with four other couples on Thursday all while they watch the local Christian-based Clarity’s annual fundraising banquet for Bartholomew and Brown counties.
“We don’t care if it’s 80 degrees,” Melissa Fairbanks said, adding that they’ll stick to their socially distanced plan.
For the past decade or so, the Fairbanks have purchased a table for their friends at the normal gathering at The Commons that funds more than 30% of the nonprofit’s annual $1.7 million budget. This year’s event is going virtual.
“This is about friendships — but it’s also about supporting an organization that we believe so strongly in,” Melissa Fairbanks said, adding that their sons participated in Clarity’s youth sexuality education programs years ago in middle school and junior high. “We feel those educational components are so important.
“And we know that we can’t stop educating our students and young adults.”
Clarity is hoping for that same kind of commitment from other supporters, according to Tim Bond, executive director. Clarity saw 20% fewer clients and 20% fewer distinct client visits in 2020 because of COVID-19.
But the number of people in the Christian nonprofit agency’s restoration programs increased because they were offered virtually. Clarity, which offers everything from pregnancy testing to support groups to post-abortion healing, also increased the scope of its outreach by connecting up with a national organization, Support After Abortion.
Those are some of the challenging elements of 2020, along with some especially good news on another front to be detailed at the event.
The theme of this year’s banquets, including separate ones for Jackson and Jennings counties and also for Decatur and Shelby counties is “Shining Value,” according to Bond.
“Everything that we do revolves around helping people to understand their value and worth,” Bond said. “So what we’re doing is shining a spotlight on the fact that every person has value and worth. Sometimes when people consider difficult experiences in their past or when they’re facing difficult experiences in the present moment, they feel like that they’re worthless.”
The size of the audience for the program is uncertain.
“We have no idea exactly how many people to expect (to watch),” Bond said.
Organizers are promoting the fundraiser with watch parties slated at area churches or in people’s homes. The idea is for supporters to ask their friends to consider watching and acquainting themselves with Clarity’s mission promoting sanctity of life and more. Pre-registration is required at claritycares.org/banquets
Columbus resident Matt Carothers has been a supporter of Clarity for several years.
“Our family always has looked to support causes that are faith-based and kid-based,” Carothers said. “And Clarity definitely checks off both of those boxes. I just can’t imagine people not wanting to support an organization that helps so many people at a time in their life when they may be scared and really needing support through things.”
