Support Nonprofits during Midlands Gives Day on May 6

By JoAnn Turnquist

What would happen if we all combined our resources on one day in support of nonprofit organizations in our local community? What if we could do this by simply clicking a mouse?

On May 6, Central Carolina Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that connects charitable individuals and businesses with nonprofits that serve our community, will present the Midlands’ first regional day of giving. During this 24-hour online giving challenge, Midlands Gives Day will bring our region together as one community by raising money and awareness for 150 Midlands nonprofits.

Midlands Gives is part of a national day of giving called Give Local America that encourages everyone to support vital causes in their local communities. This effort, a celebration of the centennial anniversary of community foundations nationwide, promotes and encourages local philanthropy.

Giving Days are becoming widely popular around the country, spurred by engaged communities and social media. They provide an opportunity for anyone to become a philanthropist with an online donation as small as $20.

It is easy for anyone with a credit or debit card to participate in Midlands Gives Day. On Tuesday, May 6, simply visit www.midlandsgives.org between 12:00am and 11:59pm, select the nonprofits that you would like to support financially, enter a donation amount and approve the charge. All contributions will go directly to the organizations that you select – organizations that support our community.

Why give on May 6? Thanks to our generous sponsors, a gift to any of the participating nonprofit organizations in the Foundation’s 11-county service area will be increased through a bonus pool and prize incentives totaling more than $90,000. Every hour, Golden Ticket prizes will add $500 to a randomly selected donor’s gift for a total of 24 prizes. During six Power Hours scheduled throughout the day, the nonprofit with the most donors during that hour will receive a $1,000 prize.

Midlands Gives provides the opportunity to give to one organization or multiple organizations.  The participating nonprofits serve a wide range of community opportunities and needs including animal welfare, arts and culture, community improvement, education, environment, health, human services and youth development. The list of organizations and their profiles can be found on www.midlandsgives.org.

We look forward to magnifying the Midlands on May 6 by connecting local nonprofits to the many generous people in our community. People like you.

Ms. Turnquist is the President and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation.