For weeks, nonprofit organizations in the Lowcountry have been sending emails, posting to Facebook, Twitter and other social media about Lowcountry Giving Day, a 24-hour crowdfunding event that takes place Tuesday starting at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday
WHERE: The Sandcastle, 1 Shipwatch Road, Kiawah Island
more info: Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/events/1614729778763101/
Multiple organizations
WHAT: The Alley will provide food and drink specials all day, and 10 percent of all sales from the event will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston, Carolina Youth Development Center, Florence Crittenton, Carolina Studios & First Tee of Greater Charleston.
WHEN: 1 a.m.-9 p.m. Last year’s Lowcountry Giving Day, the first, raised more than $4 million for 93 nonprofit groups in the coastal region, said Richard Hendry, interim CEO of the Coastal Community Foundation, which facilitates the event. This year, there are 179 nonprofits participating in Lowcountry Giving Day, Hendry said.
This year, Chucktown Squash will hold a squash tournament and drop-in on Giving Day, Herterich said.
In terms of number of donors, Charleston Animal Society was the big dog last year, with 489 unique donors, followed by the College of Charleston, Friends of the Charleston County School District and Crisis Ministries, now known as One80 Place. Before hosting last year’s event, the folks at Coastal Community Foundation weren’t real sure the concept of a single day of online giving would work, said Monica Tanouye, a spokeswoman for the foundation. Hendry said he thinks the community’s big donors are attracted to Lowcountry Giving Day because they put up the incentive money ahead of time, and they list the charities they want to get the match from their incentives. While not every donation is matched dollar for dollar, gifts made during Giving Day help nonprofits unlock additional funds from their incentive donors.
The secret to Charleston Symphony Orchestra’s success in raising the most money last year was that they had called their major donors and asked them to postpone giving until the day of the event.
Enlarge Students who are part of the Chucktown Squash team meet at the College of Charleston squash courts Tuesday April 28, 2015. Enlarge Za’Nayah Washington talks with assistant squash coach Patrick Hackett as students spend the afternoon practicing with Chucktown Squash at the College of Charleston squash courts.
Za’Nayah Washington talks with assistant squash coach Patrick Hackett as students spend the afternoon practicing with Chucktown Squash at the College of Charleston squash courts.
