Lowndes Community Foundation led Mississippi this weekend in the first ever Day of Giving.
On Saturday, the Lowndes Community Foundation raised $11,030. Statewide, $352,149 were raised by 358 organizations. The Lowndes Community Foundation won a $1,000 prize for raising the most money in the state.
The Day of Giving was proclaimed by Gov. Phil Bryant earlier this year and is intended to capture the giving spirit of the Magnolia State.
Groups around the state followed donations by the minute online at GiveGab.com, a website that helps non-profits work together on a peer-to-peer platform.
“The Day of Giving prizes have catalyzed activity online and in the community,” Chris Beeman, co-founder and senior vice president of business development at GiveGab, said. “Several businesses and community foundations sponsored more than $30,000 in total prizes, and nonprofit organizations will have the opportunity to win throughout the day.”
The Lowndes Community Foundation hosted its donations on the site. The United Way of Lowndes County also posted donations on the site, recording $550 donated throughout the day. Patricia Brock with United Way said they were accepting donations physically at their offices in Columbus, too. United Way could not be reached to determine a total amount raised by press time.
The Starkville-Oktibbeha Achieving Results (SOAR) Foundation raised $1,010 Saturday.
All money raised stays in the community in which it was donated.
The mission of the Lowndes Community Foundation is to help Lowndes County residents improve their quality of life through tax-deductible donations, according to its website.
Renee Sanders, the volunteer coordinator for United Way of Lowndes County, said volunteers also gathered Saturday to participate in Make a Difference Day. Locally, volunteers worked on 16 area homes and with eight local non-profit organizations to assist them with yard and building upkeep.
Sanders said their focus was aiding senior citizens with projects.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
