For the third year in a row, Fairfield County residents will be encouraged to “give where you live” in this year’s Fairfield County Giving Day on Thursday.
The 24-hour period, organized by the Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, will give residents from across the county an opportunity to make an impact with a donation – as little as $10 – to local nonprofits in the area.
“We‘re aiming this year for over a million dollars in donations,” said Kristy Jelenik, development manager for the Community Foundation. “Last year we raised $1,066,091 for 386 nonprofits and we’re proud to announce that we will be benefitting 417 nonprofit organizations this year.”
Among the Greenwich nonprofits that the 24-hour donation period will benefit is the Greenwich Adult Day Care, the Greenwich Alliance for Education, the Greenwich Art Society, the Greenwich Ballet Academy, the Greenwich Choral Society, the Old Greenwich Riverside Community Center and more.
Donations given to the Friends of Nathaniel Witherell will go to their Resident Life Fund to support their services and upcoming programs, while the Greenwich Land Trust will use the funds raised to benefit its Earth Day beatification efforts next month.
From midnight to 11:59 p.m. on March 10, donations can be made online at FCGives.org, where people can search for their favorite local nonprofit to support their crucial work in the community.
Cash prizes are awarded to the nonprofits with the most unique donors and the most dollars raised. Other cash prizes are given to nonprofits that are the first to receive 25 unique donations of $25 of more and also during select hours of the day.
Last year, Greenwich-based Adopt-A-Dog Inc. raised over $13,000 in the 24-hour period and the Greenwich Alliance for Education took home one of the multiple cash prizes awarded during the day’s “Power Hours.”
Residents can also enter and sign up for a chance to win $1,000 to the nonprofit of their choice by submitting their e-mail online at FccFoundation.org before 5 p.m. on March 10. A random drawing will determine the winner and no donation or payment of any kind is necessary to enter.
Formed in 1992, the Fairfield County Community Foundation has merged with multiple smaller foundations before changing its name and brand identity in 2014. Their mission is to promote philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County.
As of June 30, 2014, the foundation has awarded $180 million in grants, including $11.8 million in 2014 alone. In 2013, community foundations nationwide awarded $4.98 billion in grants to nonprofits.
Visit FCGives.org for more information and to donate on March 10.
