Milford. Nonprofit organizations whose fundraising efforts have been upended by COVID-19 restrictions will have a chance to replenish their coffers this spring with a socially distanced, yet socially driven online fundraising event called NEPA Gives. Hosted by Greater Pike Community Foundation and other foundation partners in northeast Pennsylvania, NEPA Gives is a 24-hour marathon of giving starting at 12 a.m. and ending at 11:59 p.m. on June 4. All nonprofit organizations are encouraged to register now and help spread the word about the event to their supporters.
“It is a win-win for area nonprofits,” said Greater Pike Executive Director, Jenni Hamill. She added, “Last year, this event raised more than a half million dollars for registered organizations. In fact, the average dollar amount raised per organization was more than 3-thousand dollars with 145 organizations receiving at least one new online donor. If your organization registers and participates, you will raise money!”
Registration is $25 for eligible nonprofits at nepagives.org/register and donations to registered nonprofits will be enhanced with cash and in-kind prizes provided by NEPA Gives sponsors.
Greater Pike Board Chair Jim Pedranti said, “Many generous businesses and individuals have already stepped up to sponsor prizes for nonprofits who register and achieve fundraising milestones to further help our nonprofit community. We are grateful for their support.”
Local business sponsors so far include the Pike County Commissioners, the Hotel Fauchère, Zimmerman Ohliger Law Firm, Davis R. Chant Realtors, Save the Bees Sola Boutique, McAteer & Will Estates and The Historic Upper Mill. Board members at Greater Pike are also pitching in with cash prizes. In addition, promotional support and in-kind donations have come from Neversink Media Group and the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. Other foundation sponsors are Scranton Area Community Foundation, Carbon County Community Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, Wayne County Community Foundation, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center (NCAC).