Valley Gives Day Records More Than $2.67 Million in Donations

SPRINGFIELD — Western Mass.-based nonprofits sent out the call, and their supporters gave — and gave and gave. In 24 hours, 14,189 donors made 28,824 gifts for a grand total of $2,676,595 at the third annual Valley Gives Day.

In addition, a prize pool of $225,000 was distributed among several nonprofits. Organizations in three budget categories competed for bonus grants presented to the top three slots for ‘most unique donors.’ First prize was $5,000, second was $4,000, and third was $3,000. In keeping with a In addition, nonprofits in 12th place in each category were awarded a $1,200 bonus grant.

In the category of large nonprofits, the winners were New England Public Radio (839 unique donors), Dakin Humane Society (739 donors), and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts (696 donors). Among medium-sized nonprofits, the winners were New Spirit Inc. (641 donors), Whole Children (632 donors), and Pioneer Valley Symphony (384 donors). Among small nonprofits, the winners were Friends of the Hilltown Cooperative Charter School Inc. (437 donors), Grow Food Northampton (342 donors), and the Jackson Street School PTO Inc. (299 donors).

Other awards were given in the category of money raised by first-time participants, with first place going to the Jackson Street School PTO Inc. with $24,356. Also, hourly beginning at 9 a.m., a randomly selected donation to a participating nonprofit had a $1,000 golden ticket added to the total. Throughout the day, there were five bonus power hours (10 a.m., noon, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m.) when a total of $22,000 golden tickets were added to randomly selected donations.

The full list of nonprofits and their totals raised is available at www.valleygivesday.org.