WESTFIELD – Many Westfield non-profit organizations and programs will be taking part in Valley Gives Day tomorrow.
Valley Gives Day is a 24-hour e-philanthropy event with the goal of raising funds for organizations between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Potential donors can visit www.valleygivesday.org and make donations to various non-profit organizations and programs located throughout the Pioneer Valley.
Valley Gives technical support is provided by Razoo, the world’s fastest-growing crowd funding site for causes. Razoo, which has helped nonprofits raise over $101 million, is committed to creating a more generous world by offering easy-to-use online fundraising tools for individuals and nonprofits.
Over 270 non-profit organizations and programs are participating in Valley Gives Day, some located in Westfield.
Amelia Park Ice Arena is focused on fundraising through Valley Gives for their Annual Sled Hockey Tournament, as well as their blocks of ice campaign which donates ice time to nonprofits, and they hope create a new program with the goal of giving underprivileged youth the opportunity to learn how to skate.
Also represented on Valley Gives Day is the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, as well as the YMCA of Greater Westfield. Donations can also made to the Noble & Cooley Center for Historic Preservation (NCCHP) Museum, which is looking to preserve and grow the museum with the support from Valley Gives.
Valley Gives Day is supporting the Greater Westfield & Western Hampden County Medical Reserve Corps Inc. (GWMRCERT) and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Ernie Lannaccone of GWMRCERT, says that the funds raised “will go towards supporting our mission to impart knowledge, develop skills and foster attitudes that will help re-establish the belief that neighbors helping neighbors makes for a strong self-reliant community that can survive anything by pulling together in times of natural or manmade disasters or public health emergencies”.
This event is hosted by the Community Foundations of Western Massachusetts, partnered with eight of the leading funding organizations serving western Massachusetts, including the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, the Jewish Endowment Foundation, the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, United Way of Hampshire County, United Way of Franklin County, United Way of Pioneer Valley, Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, and the Beveridge Family Foundation.
Vice President of Philanthropic Services at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Kristin Leutz, says that the main goal and mission of Valley Gives Day is “to increase opportunity for generosity for local non-profits” and also to increase “social media capacity and online giving” for the participating organizations. Participating organizations were also able to receive free training in social media through Valley Gives.
There are two different prize categories: organizations with annual budgets of $500,000 or more, and organizations with annual budgets under $500,000. Nonprofits will be ranked by both the amount of money raised and the number of donors. Also, a prize of $1,200 will be given to the nonprofit in twelfth place in each of the two categories and starting at 11:00 a.m., Valley Gives will make grants of $1,000 to one randomly selected nonprofit. One randomly selected organization will receive the Golden Ticket grant of $10,000 during the day as well.
Residents are encouraged to donate throughout the day tomorrow to support their local nonprofit organizations.
