What a difference a day makes! Give Local Porter County on May 6 raised $132,613.53 in 1,024 gifts in just 24 hours. "We're so excited for the 51 local nonprofit organizations who benefit from this extraordinary generosity," said Barb Young, President of the Porter County Community Foundation. "Each donor and each dollar makes a difference."
Though Give Local was an online event, many of the participating nonprofit organizations held in-person celebrations to inspire giving. "We had nonprofit organizations hosting coffee house gatherings and open houses, and even leaders pledging to kiss a pig or dress as super heroes to spur giving," said Carol Costakis, Community Resource Director for the Foundation. A special Power Hour drew more than 200 gifts totaling $20,000+ in just 60 minutes.
The one-day only, around-the-clock event inspired so many to give. Nationwide, the event raised nearly $50 million from a total of 542,774 gifts – all to benefit 7,700 nonprofit organizations from coast to coast. Give Local America was a celebration of philanthropy in honor of the 100-year anniversary of the nation's first community foundation. The Porter County Community Foundation powered the local event, along with The Times Media Company. Methodist Hospitals and the Porter County Community Foundation each donated $5,000 for the local prize pool. The Foundation is also grateful for media sponsor Indiana 105.
The 51 nonprofit organizations participating in Give Local for Porter County were: A Positive Approach to Teen Health, Best Buddies Pet Pantry Inc. , Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, Call-A-Ride, The Caring Place, Chasing Dreams, Dayspring Women's Center, Dunebrook, Duneland Education Foundation, Dunes Learning Center, Family and Youth Services Bureau, Family Concern Counseling, Family House Inc., First Contact, Frontline Foundations, Inc., Gabriel's Horn Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Porter County, Hannah's Hope, HealthLinc, Hilltop Neighborhood House, Housing Opportunities, Independent Cat Society, Jacob's Ladder Pediatric Rehab, Kibble Kitchen Pet Pantry, Memorial Opera House Foundation, Mental Health America of Porter County, NeighborLink Porter County, Neighbors Corporation, Neighbors' Educational Opportunities, Inc., NorthShore Health Centers, Opportunity Enterprises, Pines Village Retirement Communities, Inc., Portage Township Food Pantry, Portage YMCA, Porter Co. Association for Handicapped Children & Adults, Inc., Porter County 4-H Council, Inc., Porter County Cancer Society, Inc., Porter County Public Library System, Porter-Starke Services Foundation, Rebuilding Together Duneland, Rebuilding Together Hebron, Reins of Life, Inc., Save the Dunes, Shults-Lewis, Taltree Arboretum & Gardens, United Way of Porter County, Valparaiso Family YMCA, Valparaiso Theatrical Co., Valpo Parks Foundation, Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County, Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry
For more information, including a leaderboard summarizing all gifts to Give Local Porter County, visit www.givelocaportercounty.org