From staff reports
With just two weeks until the second annual Week of Giving, Bridge Builders Community Foundations has seen an increase in the number of nonprofits signed up to participate.
“We are ecstatic about the nonprofits who chose to join in on the second Week of Giving,” said Trenton Moulin, executive director of BBCF. “We’ve gone from 88 nonprofits and funds last year to more than 125 this year,” he said.
“With the increase in nonprofits, we plan to see an increase in donors, making even more of an impact in our community,” Moulin said.
It provides the opportunity for people to make donations to a variety of organizations representing categories such as arts and cultural, children and youth, environmental/conservation, and health care, scholarships and more.
“Whether it’s $25 or $1,000, any contribution towards the Week of Giving supports the organizations making a difference in our region,” said Moulin. “This campaign isn’t only about donations; it’s about educating people on our community’s needs and the nonprofits that are meeting those needs. So many nonprofits of all sizes are making our area a better place and we want to celebrate that and showcase all that charities do in our area.”
Last year, BBCF gave nearly $104,000 from more than 300 donors to 88 local nonprofits and funds, with a total of $20,000 in matching funds provided by local businesses, according to Moulin.
This year the stretch pool is already over $30,000, he said. Major supporters are Northwest Bank and the Paul & Ellen Flickner Charitable Fund. These funds will be added on to every donation during the Week of Giving on a pro-rated basis. This will make a contribution during the Week of Giving go even further for the nonprofits that are supported.
Some of the participating nonprofits include:
– Marienville Library – The library will hold 50/50 and basket drawings during the week of March 19-23 to raise funds. Money that is received during the week will be matched by Bridge Builders.
– Clarion Forest VNA – The VNA’s Extended Care Services program is hoping to raise $3,000 to be used to cover the expenses of caregiver training sessions which are held monthly.
– Heavenly Gaits – The therapeutic horse riding center in Knox hopes to raise $12,000, which would be used to defray the costs of its programs that provide instruction in horsemanship to enhance the quality of life for those who are challenged by physical, cognitive, emotional and social constraints.
