‘Midlands Gives’ hosts full day of entertainment at Spirit Communications Park

Public encouraged to drop by for lunch or happy hour at the ballpark; cheer for favorite charities during live TV news broadcasts

 

COLUMBIA, SC – Central Carolina Community Foundation invites the public to join more than 380 nonprofits and supporters at Midlands Gives Headquarters in the brand new Spirit Communications Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies, located in the Bull Street development in downtown Columbia, S.C., on Tuesday, May 3, from 5 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Online giving for the third annual 24-hour giving challenge opens at midnight May 3 and closes 24 hours later at http://www.MidlandsGives.org.

Schedule of Public Activities at Midlands Gives Headquarters on May 3

Midlands Gives Headquarters will host a day full of free, family-friendly interactive events, including the following:

• Nonprofit Marketplace featuring tables manned by 70 local nonprofits from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Regional Mayors’ Pitching Contest, sponsored by Nephron, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., featuring 12 Midlands mayors pitching for their favorite causes
• Food and drink concessions during lunch, 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and food concessions with beer and wine during Happy Hour, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Live broadcasts by local TV and radio stations throughout the day, during which nonprofits supporters are encouraged to bring signs and cheer for their causes (5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; 11:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
• A live concert during happy hour by the nonprofit Heart n’ Soul band from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• A meet-and-greet with the Columbia Fireflies mascot, Mason, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

To view the full Midlands Gives day schedule and learn where local groups will be hosting their own giving stations across the region, visit https://midlandsgives.org/events.

Parking is free and admission is free to come and visit Midlands Gives headquarters on May 3. The Foundation will offer online giving stations with live assistance on site. Donations to the 383 participating nonprofits will be tracked live on the real-time leaderboard, which will be displayed on the Columbia Fireflies jumbotron screen over the field and online at http://www.MidlandsGives.org.

Midlands Gives in Detail

In its third year, Midlands Gives – hosted by Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ expert on philanthropy – serves as a hub for donors to give online to 383 local nonprofits in the 11 Midlands counties served by the Foundation. In 2015, Midlands Gives raised an astonishing $1,543,032.65 million for 251 charities, up from $704,932.23 raised for 150 nonprofits in 2014, the event’s inaugural year. Midlands Gives is one of almost 100 giving days that will be taking place in cities across America as part of Give Local America.

How to Give on May 3

To give on May 3, donors simply visit http://www.MidlandsGives.org, select their nonprofits of choice from the easy, catalog of 383 participating local charities, and enter credit card information to make a minimum donation of $20 or higher to each. Donors can give to one charity or select multiple charities to receive gifts in one secure transaction. All funds donated during Midlands Gives will go directly to each donor’s chosen nonprofits, minus credit card and processing fees. The Community Foundation does not take a percentage fee from Midlands Gives.

To view the full list of nonprofits and review profiles on each, visit http://www.MidlandsGives.org.

More than $95,000 in Prizes

The new Corporate Philanthropy Champion program has engaged the local business community; tax-deductible gifts can have an even bigger impact by helping nonprofits win prizes and bonus funds throughout the day such as “Power Hours” and “Match Minutes.” Approximately 19 businesses are donating more than $95,000 in additional prizes for Midlands Gives 2016, a 200% increase from previous years. Major prizes are sponsored by Aflac, SCE&G, BB&T, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, and Colonial Life. Bonus pools from regional endowments will amplify donations in Orangeburg and Calhoun, Chapin, Kershaw and Sumter Counties.

To view all “Power Hours,” “Match Minutes” and other prizes available to nonprofits throughout the day, visit https://midlandsgives.org/prizes.

 

About Midlands Gives:

Midlands Gives is an annual 24-hour online giving challenge for local nonprofits, presented by Central Carolina Community Foundation. This year’s event will take place on May 3, 2016. For more information about Midlands Gives, visit www.midlandsgives.org or call 803-254-5601. 

About Central Carolina Community Foundation:

Central Carolina Community Foundation – the Midlands’ expert on philanthropy – is a nonprofit organization serving 11 counties in the Midlands by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors, nonprofits and area leaders to communities in need. Major initiatives include the Midlands Gives 24-hour giving challenge, Connected Communities grants, the One SC Flood Relief Fund, the Best of Philanthropy Awards, annual scholarships and more. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.yourfoundation.org or call 803.254.5601.