Support 372 local nonprofits during Midlands Gives this Tuesday, May 1

The fifth annual 24-hour online giving challenge is presented by Central Carolina Community Foundation

From midnight to midnight on Tuesday, May 1, thousands of “everyday philanthropists” will come together to support 372 local nonprofits through Midlands Gives. The fifth year for the 24-hour online giving challenge, Midlands Gives is hosted by Central Carolina Community Foundation — the Midlands’ expert on philanthropy. Donations start at $20 and can be made at http://www.MidlandsGives.org.

“The region’s enthusiasm for Midlands Gives has grown every year inspired by the increasing number of participating nonprofits and features that encourage giving like Corporate Philanthropy Champion prizes and Champion Pages, a new feature this year,” says JoAnn Turnquist, President and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Anyone can give by choosing from hundreds of local nonprofits across the 11 Midlands counties served by the Foundation. User-friendly by design, the Midlands Gives website offers an easy way for people to go online and give back. Using a fun, interactive shopping cart system, people can select multiple charities and give each of them donations via one central website on May 1, 2018 at http://www.MidlandsGives.org.

Five Years of Community Impact and $5.5 Million Raised
Since the inception of Midlands Gives in 2014, Central Carolina Community Foundation has raised more than $5.5 million for hundreds of local nonprofits. In 2017, Midlands Gives raised $1,672,118 via 13,765 individual gifts, for 337 charities. In 2016, Midlands Gives raised $1.6 million via 12,536 individual gifts, for 382 charities. In 2015, Midlands Gives raised $1,543,032.65, via 11,372 individual gifts, for 251 charities. In 2014, the event’s inaugural year, $704,932.23 was raised, via 5,186 individual gifts, for 150 charities. Midlands Gives is one of almost 100 giving days that take place in cities across America throughout the year. In 2015 and 2016, Midlands Gives ranked in the top 10 in the nation in number of individual gifts, indicating the widespread generosity of the region.

New: Individuals drive support to their favorite nonprofits via “Champion Pages”
A new feature for 2018, Champion Pages provide a vehicle for individuals to connect their passions and networks by creating personal campaigns to raise money for local nonprofits. Individuals selected a nonprofit and a fundraising goal and created their own personal page that can be shared with friends and family to raise money during Midlands Gives. Champion Pages offer a fun, customized way to raise money, track personal fundraising goals, and celebrate milestones. More information can be found at http://www.midlandsgives.org/champion.

New: Free Ticket to South Carolina State Museum with Midlands Gives Receipt
Guests who come to the South Carolina State Museum, Midlands Gives Headquarters, on May 1 and show their Midlands Gives donor receipt will receive a free single ticket for museum admission that day.

Cheer for Your Favorite Nonprofit at Midlands Gives Headquarters
Midlands Gives headquarters at the South Carolina State Museum will again provide a central location for the community to celebrate and cheer for their favorite charities on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. Nonprofits and their fans are encouraged to come to the museum with signs and cheer during live TV news broadcasts on May 1 at the South Carolina State Museum during early morning, midday and evening television broadcasts.

“We are one of the only regions in the country where all of the media outlets join together to support a giving day,” said JoAnn Turnquist. “We are very proud to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Midlands Gives with our media partners, our corporate sponsors, our impactful nonprofits, and our amazing online donors.”

Midday Fun with Regional Mayors: The Nephron Putting Challenge
As has become a tradition, Midlands mayors and council members will compete in a midday sporting challenge on Midlands Gives day. This year, local leaders will show off their golfing skills in the Nephron Putting Challenge, which begins at 11:45 a.m. More details about this event and a schedule of broadcast times can be found at http://www.MidlandsGives.org.

Participant List for Nephron Putting Challenge at 11:45 a.m.:

• Mayor Elise Partin (Cayce)
• Lou Kennedy (Nephron Pharmaceuticals)
• Xanna Garner (Nephron Pharmaceuticals)
• Mayor Pro Tem/ Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine (Columbia)
• Councilmen Seth Rose (Richland County)
• Mayor Steve MacDougall (Lexington)
• Mayor Bobby Horton (West Columbia)
• Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Davis (Town of Pine Ridge)
• Mayor David Knight (Chapin)
• Mayor Foster Senn (Newberry)
• Councilwoman Harriett Rucker (Newberry)
• Mayor Mark Huguley (Arcadia Lakes)
• Mayor Michael Bishop (Town of Springdale)
• Mayor J. Michael Ross (Blythewood)
• Derek Underwood, Prosperity
• Hardy King, Irmo

Local Corporations Lend Major Support via Matching Gifts and Incentive Prizes
Corporate sponsors, including Aflac, Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation, BB&T and First Citizens Bank are providing financial incentives, matching gifts and prizes for nonprofits on May 1. Additional prizes are being sponsored by South State Bank, Nelson Mullins, Southeastern Freight, and Elliott Davis. The full list of prizes can be found at https://www.midlandsgives.org/prizes.

Advance, Scheduled Giving Available through April 30
For the second year, Central Carolina Community Foundation implemented easy, early, pre-scheduled online giving from April 17 to April 30. Everyday philanthropists can add their donation to local nonprofits to their shopping cart at http://www.MidlandsGives.org. (Scheduled gifts will not count toward the prizes available for nonprofits on May 1.) Scheduled gifts will be processed beginning at 12:00 a.m. on May 1.

CiviCore has been retained for the second year as the online platform for Midlands Gives. The website platform is specially designed for the gamification aspects of a giving day (prize tracking and leaderboards). It is also capable of managing a high volume of website visitors and creates a seamless user experience similar to online shopping, complete with recommendations and an advanced shopping cart interface. Search through nonprofits based on category, interest or keywords and see more detailed descriptions with photos and videos.

With the exception of standard credit card processing fees and a technology fee (average 2.1% credit card fee + 2.8% technology fee), every penny donated via Midlands Gives goes directly to the giver’s nonprofit(s) of choice. Overhead costs are covered by Central Carolina Community Foundation and its supporters.

Midlands Gives will be held from midnight to 11:59:59 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. With a minimum $20 donation and a wide variety of nonprofits to support, Midlands Gives makes it easy for everyone to become a philanthropist. Discover participating nonprofit organizations at http://www.MidlandsGives.org.

 

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 1, 2018. 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 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.