Have you heard the buzz about an upcoming event called Brazos Valley Gives? This buzz is evolving into what is sure to be one of the most unifying and exciting days of giving for our 7-county region.
So, what is Brazos Valley Gives? Brazos Valley Gives is 18-hours of on-line giving that brings the region together on one day and as “one community” to raise critical funding and awareness for nonprofit organizations throughout the Brazos Valley. This day of giving will provide citizens and businesses an easy platform to support the mission and “good works” of local nonprofit organizations that serve the Brazos Valley – strengthening nonprofits, empowering donors and building community.
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 22 for Brazos Valley Gives—the first annual giving day where a donor can go online to support their favorite nonprofit(s). “To date, over 84 nonprofits have registered to participate in the 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. fundraising extravaganza,” said Patricia Gerling, president of the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley, the organization that is powering the first annual giving day. “These 18 hours of giving will provide all small and large nonprofits with an equal opportunity to raise awareness about their programs and seek funding to support their mission. In addition, any community member can be a philanthropist, with a minimum $10 donation or more going to their nonprofit(s) of choice.”
In addition to the online giving platform, the Community Foundation is partnering with The Eagle to host a drive-thru donation station at 1729 Briarcrest Drive [Bryan, Texas] from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. for individuals wishing to drop off a check or monetary donation on Tuesday, October 22. Donors can also begin prescheduling their contributions on October 8, but the transactions will not be processed on their credit card until Tuesday, October 22.
Other giving days in Texas have shown great success. Communities Foundation of Texas hosts North Texas Giving Day – the largest community-wide giving day in the nation – which raised over $48 million in one day last year. Earlier this year, East Texas Giving Day raised more than $1.3 million, according to the event’s website.
Each participating nonprofit can rally their constituency for a matching gift, which can give them a goal to shoot for. Matching gifts can give donors a goal, too. If a donor makes a match, the organization will try to raise the same amount from the public during Brazos Valley Gives. Gerling said the Community Foundation will not receive any portion of the transaction fee or profit from Brazos Valley Gives Day. All donations, except for a 5.1% event/credit card fee per transaction goes to the participating organizations. These minimal fees are passed to the donor, or the donor can opt-out.
The Community Foundation has set a lofty goal of raising $500,000 for participating nonprofits during Brazos Valley Gives. Chair Julie Porter explains,
The Brazos Valley is known for its generosity and support of our nonprofit community. We live here and we want to give HERE! We have no doubt that this event will be well supported, and we will make our goal.
Local individuals, corporations and businesses are also taking part in sponsoring each hour of giving—to offer over $20,000 in incentive prizes for the participating nonprofit raising the most money per hour, or having the most donors, among other categories.
“The Prenatal Clinic in Bryan, Texas which was founded in 1985, is participating in Brazos Valley Gives because it is trying to increase awareness of the mission and work of the Clinic,” said Lynn Clary Yeager, executive director of the clinic. She said the organization’s mission of ensuring that all babies have the best chance for a healthy start in life begins before that baby is born. Early entry to prenatal care, and controlling factors like diabetes and hypertension, can prevent low birth weight and reduce the incidences of a premature birth. We are all about having healthy babies at The Prenatal Clinic. The clinic has set a goal of raising $15,000 during Brazos Valley Gives.
“It will go into supporting what we already do and help us plan for the future,” Yeager said. “We are grateful that we live in a generous community which believes that we are all responsible for taking care of each other.”
Media partners KBTX, The Eagle and Bryan Broadcasting are rallying around our community to support Brazos Valley Gives. “All of our media partners are an essential part of promoting the day, our nonprofits and unifying our community as we encourage giving where we live,” noted Molly Watson, media and marketing chair. “Our hope is that this online event on October 22 will transform an idea to help raise awareness of nonprofits, into a broad movement and culture of community-wide giving. During Brazos Valley Gives, everyone has the opportunity to be a philanthropist to build a stronger and more vibrant community.”
Visit www.brazosvalleygives.org to make sure your favorite nonprofit organization is participating and see how easy it is to donate. The deadline for nonprofit registration is September 30. f you are interested in participating or supporting Brazos Valley Gives or need more information, please contact Patricia Gerling at 979.589.4305 or brazosvalleygives@gmail.com.
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Brazos Valley Gives Day is powered by the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley. We are a Bryan-based nonprofit focused on strengthening the 7-county Brazos Valley region through philanthropy as we raise and steward a $8.4M community endowment for donors and charitable organizations.