Valley Gives, regional e-philanthropy event, starts at midnight 12/12/13

Posted on by Listify Me

SPRINGFIELD – Valley Gives, a one-day regional e-philanthropy event, plans to raise $2 million for area charities during its 24-hour run Thursday.

That’s double the amount it raised in last year’s inaugural run, timed for the calendar ddity of 12/12/12.

“Our slogan this year is bring a friend,” said spokesman Michael Kusek.If everyone who gave last year gives the same amount and gets one friend to donate, we will reach our goal.”

Valley Gives is meant to do more than just raise money. It also provides the 351 participating not-for-profits with an entry point to the world of online fund-raising where many groups have trouble gaining traction on their own. Valley Gives pushes hard into social media with a Twitter feed – @valleygives, and Facebook and a website valleygives.razoo.com.

Donors use the website to learn more about charities and select one.

Charities are competing this year for $225,000 in prize money available by chance and by raising the most money overall and by raising the most money in a set time period.

Individual charities are also running challenges and donor matches. For example, WGBY public television announced two challenge gifts made by longtime supporters.
First, Robyn Newhouse, vice president of The Republican and WGBY Board of Tribunes member, has agreed to match individual gifts dollar-for-dollar, up to $7,000.

Second, WGBY is grateful for a $2,000 challenge gift from Nancy and Bruce Urbschat of Springfield. Nancy owns Springfield-based TSM Design.

While the focus is online, many of the participating organizations will have events throughout the day, all listed on the website. The Valley Gives Generosity Teams will be at several locations, including from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Monarch Place downtown and from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tower Square and from 4:45 to 7 p.m. with the Northampton Area Young Professionals at Popcorn Noir, 20-32 Cottage St, Easthampton.

A second team will be from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. the Whole Foods on Route 9 in Hadley and from noon to 6 p.m. at Thorne’s Marketplace in Northampton.

The third team, which will travel via the Peter Pan FutureLiner bus will travel to Big Y supermarkets: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in West Springfield, noon to 2 p.m. in Greenfield and 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Northampton.

Valley Gives is a partnership led by the Community Foundation and the region’s three United Way organizations: United Way of Pioneer Valley in Springfield, United Way of Hampshire County in Northampton and United Way of Franklin County in Greenfield as well as the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, Jewish Endowment Foundation, Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, the Irene E. George A. Davis Foundation and The Beveridge Family Foundation.

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