WESTFIELD – Greater Westfield will have the opportunity to support dozens of non-profits and community organizations on December 12, as the second annual Valley Gives Day kicks off the season of giving.
Put on by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Valley Gives Day is looking to make a big impact in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties, though it may be tougher to make a larger impact than the haul for last year’s online pledge drive, which will be run once again through the Razoo Foundation, a public charity that operates a donor advised fund.
More than 6,000 individuals donated over $1 million through last year’s event. This year, the organization is challenging the region to double the number of donors and nonprofits, in an effort to raise $2 million dollars.
The goal of Valley Gives is to help connect residents of the three western Mass. counties with their favorite organizations, and in greater Westfield, many residents and non-profits are eagerly anticipating the event, which will last from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on the second Thursday of December.
Last year’s event saw 219 donors make 229 donations in Westfield, with the contributions totaling $30,800 dollars.
This year’s crop of Westfield nonprofits eligible to receive donations include Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, Inc., Young Singers of Greater Westfield, The Amelia Park Ice Arena & Garden, the Western Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Domus Incorporated, The Carson Center for Human Services, Inc., Volunteers in Public Schools of Westfield, Inc., Novi Cantori of Greater Springfield, YMCA of Greater Westfield, Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum, Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Western Hampden Historical Society, Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center Noble Visiting Nurse, and the Hospice Westfield Museum Inc.
Stanley Park of Westfield is looking to get a boost from community members as it looks to replace it’s sanctuary bridge and improve handicap accessibility for it’s patrons.
“It takes everyone helping us out to keep us open and free,” said Bob McKean, managing director for Stanley Park. “If people want to donate, we’d appreciate it.”
“(The sanctuary bridge) is where a lot of money is going,” McKean said. “We put money into our International Bridge, and we’ll be putting more towards the Sanctuary, as well.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield is hoping to attract donors online and during events being held throughout the day.
“This Club makes a difference in the lives of children every day and Valley Gives provides a great opportunity to support the Boys & Girls Club and thereby improving the chances for our organization to win significant cash awards during the course of the day,” said Bill Parks, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club.
Donations do not need to be large in scale, for just one donation of $45 dollars to the Boys & Girls Club on December 12 will provide one year of membership to a child, while a donation of $100 will provide one child with a week of licensed childcare, and $130 dollars will provide one week of summer camp.
While a minimum donation is $10, there is no maximum donation limit. All donations are tax-deductable.
Due to the online nature of the event, donations may only be made via credit and debit cards at valleygives.razoo.com
