One of the most important and unique fundraisers that takes place in the area each year will be taking place on March 14 when the First Community Foundation Partnership holds its “Raise the Region” fundraiser.

The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP) is excited to announce 314 nonprofits have registered to participate in Raise the Region 2018, an event to help the communities of Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties support local nonprofit organizations fundraising efforts. FCFP, in partnership with Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, will be launching a 30-hour fundraising event starting on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

“This is the sixth year for the fundraiser supported by FCFP and Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships. We are excited to host this regional event that aligns closely with the mission of the Foundation and the work of our grantmaking and fundraising efforts,” Erin Ruhl, Director of Community Relations, told Webb Weekly.

Nonprofit participation in Raise the Region was available to 501c3 organizations serving residents in Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, or Union Counties. Pre-registration was required by February 23, 2018. Participating nonprofits in Lycoming County include:

• 9-11 Memorial Coalition, Inc.
• AIDS Resource
• All Things Bright & Beautiful Day Care
• American Red Cross serving North Central PA
• American Rescue Workers
• Andrew’s Special Kids Foundation
• Appalachian Horse Help and Rescue (AHHR)
• Beckoning Cat Project
• Bellabons Pet Recovery Services
• Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Bridge Serving Lycoming County
• Billtown Blues Association
• Blooming Grove Historical Society and Cemetery
• Boy Scouts of America Susquehanna Council
• Camp Susque
• CAPPA
• Central Area Fire Chiefs’ Association
• Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
• Child Evangelism Fellowship of Lycoming County
• CleanScapes Volunteer Community Clean-up Programming
• Community Arts Center
• Community Theatre League and Community Academy of Stage and Theatre
• Cru in the Susquehanna Valley (Campus Crusade for Christ)
• Crystal Lake Ski and Outdoor Center
• East Lycoming Education Foundation
• East Lycoming Historical Society
• Economic & Community Growth Corporation
• Eldred Twp. Vol. Fire Dept.
• Ellie’s Heart Foundation
• Experience Missions, GAiN, Campus Crusade for Christ
• Factory Works
• Family Promise of Lycoming County
• Favors Forward Foundation
• Firetree Place
• Footprints of Montgomery
• Greater Hope Care Center
• Habitat for Humanity – Greater Lycoming
• Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat
• Hope Enterprises, Inc.
• Hughesville Area Public Library
• Hughesville Ville’ns
• James V. Brown Library
• Jersey Shore Educational Foundation
• Jersey Shore GSV Little League
• Jersey Shore Public Library
• Jersey Shore Summer Recreation
• Junior League of Williamsport
• KidsPeace
• K’s for Cancer
• LAPS – Lycoming Animal Protection Society, Inc.
• Leadership Lycoming/Foundation of the Williamsport Lycoming Chamber
• Loyalsock Odyssey of the Mind
• Lycoming Arts
• Lycoming Audubon Society
• Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition
• Lycoming County Historical Society
• Lycoming County Police Camp Cadet
• Lycoming County SPCA
• Lycoming County Special Olympics
• Lycoming County United Way
• Lycoming County Veterans Transition Center
• Lycoming County Youth Livestock Committee
• Lycoming Nursery School
• Montgomery Area Historical Society
• Montgomery Area Public Library
• MSG Sean Thomas Foundation
• Muncy Area Pool Association
• Muncy Community Action Program: Summer Recreation
• Muncy Historical Society
• Muncy Public Library
• Muncy School District Foundation
• NAMI North Central PA
• Newberry Branch of NGA (Needlework Guild of America)
• Newberry Community Partnership
• North Central Sight Services, Inc.
• Northcentral PA Alternatives to Violence Project
• Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy
• Oasis of Hope
• Original League, Inc.
• Our Journey With Down Syndrome
• Paternostro Family Foundation
• Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Department
• Plunketts Creek Volunteer Fire Department
• RDA
• Recovery Community Connection
• Red Raider Foundation
• Reef Conservation Society
• Repasz Band
• River Valley Health and Dental Center
• River Valley Regional YMCA
• Roads To Freedom, CILNCP
• Saint John’s School of the Arts
• Saving Lives For Zachary
• Skills of Central PA
• Sojourner Truth Ministries
• Son Light House
• South Williamsport Fire Dept.
• St. John Neumann Regional Academy
• STEP, Inc.
• Susquehanna Health Foundation
• Susquehanna River Valley Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society
• The Covation Center
• The Lancer Foundation
• The New Love Center
• The Salvation Army Williamsport
• The Spectrum Alliance of Williamsport
• The Williamsport Home
• Thrive International Programs
• Tiny Blessed Ministries, Inc.
• Transitional Living Centers, Inc.
• Uptown Music Collective
• Veterans Memorial Park of Picture Rocks
• Vineyard Community Activity Center
• W.B. Konkle Memorial Library
• West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission
• West Branch School
• West End Babe Ruth
• West End Christian Community Center
• West House
• Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation
• Williamsport Area Swim Club
• Williamsport Christian School
• Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra
• Williamsport Civic Chorus
• Williamsport Kiwanis Foundation
• Williamsport Riding Club
• Williamsport Symphony Orchestra
• WXPI Community Radio
• Yellow Wolf Advocacy Project
• Yokefellowship Prison Ministry
• YWCA Northcentral PA

A complete listing of all the non-profits in the area that are involved in “Raise the Region” can be found on the FCFP website.

On Wednesday, March 14th at 6:00 p.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 15th the public is encouraged to visit http://www.raisetheregion.org and select the participating nonprofit(s) of your choice to support, and your gift will be stretched by a generous contribution from Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships. Your donation(s) can also help raise additional support for the nonprofits selected by qualifying them for monetary prizes. All gifts are tax-deductible, and will help make your favorite nonprofits’ mission possible.

Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships has donated $150,000, which will be used to stretch a portion of donations made to the 314 pre-registered nonprofits. “We’ve always done things in the past where we have given to one charitable organization in a year. Raise the Region gives us the opportunity to support a variety of local nonprofits by providing a percentage match on gifts,” said Adam Alexander.

Your donation(s) can also help raise additional support for the nonprofits selected by qualifying them for monetary prizes sponsored by Larson Design Group, M&T Bank, Subaru, Toyota Motor Corporation, UPMC Susquehanna, and UPMC Health Plan. Samples of the prizes and incentives include a $5,000 Grand Prize to the nonprofit with the most unique donors; $1,000 FCFP Founder Prize to be added to the donation made by the 1,916 donor; $1,000 Checkered Flag Prize to the nonprofit that receives the most gifts between 10:00 p.m.-11:59 p.m., and $1,000 Passionate Giving Prize will be awarded to the nonprofit with the single largest gift during the 30 hour period.

Since starting in 2013, north central Pennsylvania has shown its true spirit of philanthropy by donating over $5.8 million collectively to over 300 nonprofits during the 30-hour fundraising events.