Give More 24! Aims to Raise $1 Million for Local Charities
24-hour online giving marathon set for September 22
Vancouver, Wash., September 2016—Southwest Washington’s third annual day of online giving will launch at midnight on Thursday, September 22. The event, called Give More 24! is a day when residents from across southwest Washington, and those living and working around the world, can visit www.Give-More-24.org and give as one community for 24 hours. Those who wish to give can choose to support any of the 128 participating nonprofits, which are categorized into ten cause areas that include animals, arts and culture, community improvement, education, environment, health, housing, hunger, social services and youth development. And every gift stays local, because each of the participating nonprofits serves Clark, Cowlitz or Skamania Counties in some way.
This giving day concept, powered by the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, creates a “giving holiday” that allows charitable gifts to “give more” for 24 hours. How is that possible? Thanks to more than a dozen $1,000 nonprofit prizes, a $72,000 stretch pool and nearly $145,000 in matching gifts. However, charitable contributions must be made through the Give More 24! website in order to receive any of these giving incentives.
Jennifer Rhoads, President of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, said “We like to say it puts the F-U-N in fundraising, because it’s a day when every gift can go further.”
Visitors to the website can search for their favorite nonprofits by name, general cause area or county of origin. Once the donor selects a nonprofit and makes their charitable gift via the website’s secure donation form, the donation will be tallied in real time so that everyone can watch dollars add up and cheer on their favorite cause. The website also allows users to tap their social networks and rally friends and family in giving to local organizations.
“People love to see the impact that their gifts make and there is no better way of doing that than to give where you live,” Rhoads said. “We’re all philanthropists and—by working together and giving what we can—we will spark the difference we want to see in our community.”
Rhoads said that this event is designed to get people excited about giving local by introducing them to new nonprofits that are doing great things in southwest Washington. It also makes giving accessible to almost anyone by keeping a relatively low minimum donation of $10. As with all fundraising events, there is also a financial goal. This year, the event hopes to raise $1 million for local causes in 24 hours by engaging nearly 4,000 donors. Last year, 2,362 unique donors gave 3,639 gifts to raise more than $695,000 for local causes during the 24-hour period.
The local fundraising event has grown in 2016 to feature more participating nonprofits and a number of exciting community events organized in partnership with local businesses. A listing of these community events can be found online at www.give-more-24.org/events.
This event would not be possible without the support of a generous group business sponsors and individual donors. Give More 24! is presented by Davidson & Associates Insurance representing PEMCO Insurance. The stretch pool is largely supported through private donations from generous individuals such as Don and Margaret Fuesler and Mason Nolan.
The Columbian is the official media sponsor for Give More 24! Printing sponsor, ADCO Printing and Graphics, has also generously contributed to its success. Vancouver Mall is the official Give More 24! Lounge sponsor, and prize sponsorships from the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, The Convenience Group and Heritage Bank have provided thirteen $1,000 prizes for the participating nonprofits. Descriptions of these prizes are available at www.give-more-24.org/prizes.
Anyone interested in contributing on Thursday, September 22 between 12:00 a.m. to 11:59:59 p.m. can learn more and sign up to participate at www.give-more-24.org.
About the Community Foundation For Southwest Washington
Established in 1984, the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington is one of more than 700 community foundations in the United States. The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of local leaders who are knowledgeable about and dedicated to the charitable activities of southwest Washington. In partnership with it’s fundholders, the Community Foundation has granted more than $133 million since it’s inception. The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington is home to nearly 280 separate funds which distribute hundreds of grants annually, addressing arts and culture, basic needs and healthy living, communities and neighborhoods, conservation and the environment, and education.
CONTACT:
Maury Harris, Marketing and Communications Specialist
Cell: 360.904.4814
maury@cfsww.org