The annual San Benito Gives fundraiser – an opportunity for charitable donors to receive matching funds toward their preferred nonprofits – is just around the corner.
San Benito Gives is an annual, 24-hour, online fundraiser overseen locally by the Community Foundation for San Benito County.
There are 35 participating nonprofit organizations this year. On Sept. 10, residents will have the ability to donate to their chosen nonprofits with up to a total of $60,000 in matching funds granted by the foundation.
“People can donate to whatever nonprofit they want to donate to that’s participating,” said Sharlene Van Rooy, the foundation’s marketing communications coordinator, “and It can be as little as $5.”
Van Rooy said this year, the foundation is emphasizing the number of donations more than the dollar amounts.
“There’s a leaderboard that shows the most number of donors,” Van Rooy said. “We’re just trying to get more people aware of the organizations.”
Prizes will be awarded based on unique donors as well, while there will be four “Mystery Hours” during which organizations receiving donations could receive an additional $1,000, she said.
The San Benito Gives website – givesanbenito.org – is actually live now and donations are accepted starting Sept. 1.
Leading up to and on Sept. 10, though, local residents are bound to see a plethora of information on social media and elsewhere about the day.
Last year, the effort raised about $160,000, Van Rooy said.
“You’re not going to be able to miss it,” she said.
