On Wednesday, Dec. 4, the 2013 GoodGiving Guide Challenge passed the $800,000 mark on its way toward the goal of raising $1 million on behalf of 108 area nonprofits.
The GoodGiving Guide Challenge is an annual online fundraising drive offered in a partnership between Smiley Pete Publishing and Blue Grass Community Trust. The campaign began on Nov. 1 and runs through 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31.
As of 10 a.m. Dec. 5, $656,338 had been raised from 3,052 online donors, along with $147,500 in awarded challenge prizes, for a total of $803,838. Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence had raised the most money, with $40,441; God's Pantry Food Bank had received the most number of donations, with 209.
More Bang for Your Buck
Aside from making donations online through the challenge’s website, www.goodgivingguide.net, there are a number of opportunities in the coming days to help local businesses contribute to the Grand Finale Match Pool:
From Dec. 6 - 8, the shops in Woodland Triangle (located between E. Maxwell Street, High Street, Kentucky Avenue and Woodland Avenue) will be hosting a “Shop Local Give Local: GoodGiving Guide Challenge Open House” where each individual business will be encouraging customers to donate to the pool in unique ways (for example, Lucia’s World Friendly Boutique will be raffling off a gift basket of goodies with a retail value of $200, all of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the campaign).
On Dec. 11, Whole Foods Market, 161 Lexington Green Cir., will donate 5 percent of sales all day long.
On Dec. 12, City Barbeque, 3292 Richmond Rd., will donate 25 percent of diners’ purchase all day long.