Give Local Campaign Raises $1.3 Million

From the Connecticut Community Foundation: Hosted by Connecticut Community Foundation, the fifth annual Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills online giving campaign raised $1.3 million in 36 hours to support the work of 243 nonprofits serving communities in the region—breaking previous giving totals for the event.

Led by Connecticut Community Foundation and presenting sponsor Ion Bank Foundation, Give Local rallied individuals, businesses, and media outlets to raise as much money and awareness as possible for local nonprofits who serve Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. Connecticut Community Foundation and dozens of sponsors contributed more than $130,000 in bonus funds and nearly $50,000 in competitive cash prizes that were awarded to nonprofits during the event.

“Wow!” said Paula Van Ness, president and CEO of Connecticut Community Foundation. “Give Local has truly sparked the philanthropic spirit that runs deep in our community. It is thrilling to see such community support for nonprofits and the vital work they do throughout our region.”

Total dollars raised for each of the participating nonprofits can be viewed on the leaderboard of the Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills website at www.GiveLocalCCF.org. Leading organizations by the end of the campaign (which concluded at 7 p.m. on April 26) included:

Top five nonprofit organizations by dollars raised:

• St. John’s Foundation (Washington)
• ASAP! (Washington Depot)
• Lake Quassapaug Association (Middlebury)
• Litchfield Montessori School (Northfield)
• Children’s Center of New Milford (New Milford)

Top five nonprofit organizations by number of gifts received:

• Wellmore Behavioral Health (Waterbury)
• Animal Welfare Society (New Milford)
• Connecticut Choral Society (Southbury)
• Easterseals of Greater Waterbury (Waterbury)
• Children's Center of New Milford (New Milford)

Photo courtesy of CT Community Foundation (Jon Draper, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Connecticut in Waterbury, is interviewed by Larry Rifkin during WATR’s live Give Local broadcast to highlight nonprofit organizations participating in the event. OLLI was one of 243 nonprofit organizations that received contributions during the 36-hour Give Local campaign.)