By Shelbi LeMeilleur
You have the chance to be a part of the Brazos Valley’s first Giving Day, Brazos Valley Gives, on Oct. 22 — a daylong online fundraiser to support local nonprofits, powered by the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley.
“To date, over 70 nonprofits have registered to participate in the 5am to 11pm fundraising extravaganza,” says Patricia Gerling, president of the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley. “These 18 hours of giving will provide all small and large nonprofits with an equal opportunity to raise awareness about their programs and seek funding to support their mission. In addition, any community member can be a philanthropist, with a minimum $10 donation or more going to their nonprofit(s) of choice.”
Community members can support nonprofits on Oct. 22 by going to www.brazosvalleygives.org. They will be able to search through the portal for the nonprofit of their choice or browse and select one or more organizations to support. With the exception of a 5.1 percent processing fee (which the donor can opt out of), all proceeds go directly to the nonprofit selected.
“The minimum donation is $10; there’s no maximum,” says Molly Watson, media and marketing chair. “That’s what we love about this. Not only will it empower any type of donor — almost anyone can afford $10 – but it will also lift up any nonprofit big or small. A lot of nonprofits don’t have a budget for PR, marketing, etc. This way — big or small — all are lifted up equally.”
Other opportunities to give during the event include prescheduled gifts beginning Oct. 8, checks and hard gifts dropped off at The Eagle drive-thru on Oct. 22, or volunteering on the day of the event.
“Our hope is that this online event on Oct. 22 will transform an idea to help raise awareness of nonprofits into a broad movement and culture of community-wide giving,” notes Watson. “During Brazos Valley Gives, everyone has the opportunity to be a philanthropist to build a stronger and more vibrant community.”
Another feature of the giving day will be hourly sponsors. Each hour of giving will be sponsored by a local business or organization, explains Watson. There will be various incentive prizes throughout the day; for example, one hour might provide a $1,000 prize to the nonprofit that raised the most money.
Brazos Valley Gives has already met one of two major goals for the first year. They wanted to get more than 60 nonprofits involved, which has been surpassed and continues to grow. Now, they hope to raise at least $500,000 to distribute to the nonprofits.
“The Brazos Valley is known for its generosity and support of our nonprofit community,” Chair Julie Porter explains. “We live here and we want to give here! We have no doubt that this event will be well supported, and we will make our goal.”
