05 Feb “Giving to CATA, we’re helping create the community that we want to live in”
CATA supporters David & Ashley Rice
When CATA supporters David and Ashley Rice first discovered CATA over ten years ago and experienced the talents of CATA artists on stage, they knew they wanted to get involved.
“We were so blown away by the first performance we saw,” says Ashley. “We realized right away just how amazing CATA is, and how important it is as a resource for people with disabilities.”
“CATA gives so much to our entire community,” says David, Vice President of Investments at Park Square Financial Advisors of Raymond James. “It’s so moving to be at a CATA event, all different people together, different ages, backgrounds, and abilities, sharing in a common great experience. Anyone who gets involved with CATA is transformed by that experience.”
Now, over ten years later, David and Ashley are CATA superfans. They’ve become loyal donors, volunteered with the Gala committee, and David serves on the CATA board.
“We feel so blessed to have an organization like CATA that is modeling inclusion for our community,” says Ashley. “We get excited to invite friends to CATA events and share the work with them. And we love that our son Andrew gets to be a part of it, too.”
“By supporting CATA, we’re showing our son how to be inclusive with others—and showing him that every person has value,” says David.
Last year, their young son Andrew had the chance to buy his own piece of CATA artwork. “Andrew really resonated with a piece at CATA’s Annual Art Show that reminded him of Starry Night. It was eye opening for him—to see the work of artists with disabilities on the walls of the Clark Art Institute. And as a parent, it was so meaningful to see him embrace that.”
For David and Ashley, giving to CATA is a way of expressing their values.
“It’s really eye opening as a donor to support an organization where you can see the impact right away,” says Ashley. “It’s a good use of finances, and it’s a way to say what our values are. I think of CATA like a beacon of hope. And we get to be a part of that through our giving.”
“CATA sets a high bar for nonprofits, the way they put our gifts to work to make a big impact in our community,” says David. “We’ve watched the organization grow so much over the last 10 years. When we first got involved, CATA was reaching 300 people. Now, CATA is reaching over 1,000 people with disabilities! It’s just amazing.”
“Giving to CATA is a really rewarding way to be involved, especially on a local level, to make a difference right here in our backyard. We’re helping create the community that we want to live in,” says David.