Elijah House Academy is one of the organizations participating in The Amazing Raise (photo courtesy The Community Foundation).
Get to sleep early tonight and set your alarms for 6 a.m. – sharp.
The Community Foundation’s Amazing Raise, a philanthropic extravaganza for area nonprofits and charitable organizations, begins Wednesday morning. The event lasts until Thursday at 6 p.m. Organizers hope to raise $2 million in the 36-hour span, and every little bit counts, says Kim Russell, The Community Foundation’s vice president of communications.
“While there’s a perception that philanthropy is an exclusive thing, we really believe it’s something that everyone can participate in,” Russell says.
Runners take to the street during last week's Amazing Raise 5K (photo courtesy The Community Foundation).
Organizers have set aside more than $180,000 in incentive grant funding that nonprofits can win throughout the event. Each donation puts its recipient closer to one of dozens of grant prizes. The organization that receives the most unique donations will win a grand prize of $15,000.
The event has grown incrementally since its inception in 2011. That year, about 6,500 people gave a total of $630,000 that benefited 270 organizations. Last year, more than 20,000 people donated nearly $1.75 million that benefited 522 organizations.
Donations can be made online using a credit or debit card. All donations are tax-deductible. A full list of participating nonprofits is available here.
