Nine days remain until the Columbus Big Give kicks off its local 24-hour fundraising event, which starts at midnight on May 19.
The website associated with the event, www.columbusbiggive.org, features a countdown clock to get area residents excited about giving.
aItas a great way to provide for the community,a said Carol Keller, a volunteer with the event since it began three years ago.
This year’s event features 37 nonprofits organizations that will benefit from donations, made both online and in-person.
aWith the online option itas easier and more convenient for people, particularly for those who may never have given before or even a younger group, rather than putting a donation in the mail,a Keller said.
Event organizers don’t have a set amount they want to raise, but each organization has its own fundraising goal.A According to Amanda Polacek, coordinator of the Columbus Area Community Foundation Fund, the eventas only goal is to reach 1,000 unique donors.
Last year, $59,000 was raised through 630 donations and matching funds, a jump from the 2014 total of $23,000 through 234 donations.
a A $3,000 to provide classrooms and educational materials for America Recycles Day on Nov.
a A $14,600 for new student desks and chairs along with two classroom renovations at Immanuel Lutheran School.
a A $5,000 toward the construction of an inclusive playground at Lost Creek Elementary through ARC of Platte County.
a A $2,500 for ongoing piano maintenance and increased programming through Columbus Friends of Music.
a A $5,000 for the purchase of 11 power half-racks and half-rack inserts for the weight room at Scotus Central Catholic.
a A $10,000 to construct a new library/cultural arts center in downtown Columbus by the Columbus Public Library Foundation.
a A $300,000 to purchase a new MRI system for Columbus Community Hospital.
This year’s participating organizations include: Arc of Platte County, Big Pals-Little Pals, Boy Scouts of America Mid-America Council, CASA Connection, Center for Rural Affairs, Center for Survivors Endowment, Central Community College Foundation, Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership, Centro Hispano Comunitario de Nebraska, Columbus Area Community Foundation Fund, Columbus Area Philanthropy Council, Columbus Area United Way aA Imagination Library Program, Columbus Arts Council, Columbus Cancer CARE Foundation, Columbus Christian School Foundation, Columbus Community Center, Columbus Community Hospital Foundation, Columbus Family YMCA, Columbus Friends of Music, Columbus Public Library Foundation, Columbus Public Schools Foundation, Columbus Rescue Mission, Communities Together Can After School Program, Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, Good Neighbor Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Immanuel Lutheran School, Keep Columbus Beautiful, Lakeview Education Foundation, NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska, Platte County Historical Society, Platte Valley Humane Society (Paws & Claws), Platte Valley Literacy Association, Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation, Scotus Central Catholic, Simon House, TeamMates and Youth For Christ.
