One of the most effective and unique ways to fund area nonprofits is Raise the Region, which is done in collaboration with The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP) and the Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships. It will take place this week on March 8 and 9, 2023.
The 30-hour online program is designed to help kick off the 2023 fundraising efforts of local nonprofits through the generosity of our sponsors and the community at large.
Participation in Raise the Region is available to 501c3 organizations serving residents in Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Tioga, or Union Counties.
“Raise the Region builds a sense of community,” Jason McCahan, Director of Philanthropy, told Webb Weekly. “It has become a primary fundraiser for many organizations over the years, and donors appreciate the opportunity to help a variety of local nonprofits throughout the region. It is a true celebration of local philanthropy.”
Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships has generously donated $175,000 that will be used to stretch every donation made to pre-registered nonprofits.
Additional monetary prizes and incentives sponsored by First Citizens Community Bank, Larson Design Group, Pennsylvania Skill by Miele Manufacturing, Subaru, Toyota Motor Corporation, UPMC, and Weis Markets will be awarded to participating nonprofits throughout the entire event.
“The Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships are proud to be a part of Raise the Region for the eleventh year. This fundraiser continues to give us the opportunity to support a variety of local nonprofits,” stated Aubrey Alexander. “Last year, we saw great success with the addition of Tioga County nonprofits. We are looking forward to another record-breaking event this year. ”
McCahan said in 2022, northcentral Pennsylvania showed its true spirit of philanthropy by donating $2,144,702 to 320 nonprofit organizations. The program had thousands of donors make over 13,700 gifts.
Since its start in 2013, Raise the Region has collectively received over $14.4 million in donations for the benefit of local nonprofit organizations.
McCahan said in 2013 the concept of a day of giving was an emerging trend among community foundations across the country. FCFP partnered with the Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships to create Raise the Region.
Every gift made during RTR will be increased by a portion of Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships’ Stretch Funds. Nonprofits will also compete for $125,000 in prize money.
The day is a celebration of philanthropy, with over 330 nonprofits serving Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Tioga, and Union counties participating in Raise the Region 2023.
FCFP works to improve the quality of life in North Central Pennsylvania through community leadership, the promotion of philanthropy, the strengthening of nonprofit impact, and the perpetual stewardship of charitable assets. FCFP strives to create powerful communities through passionate giving®.
For more information on the programs and services offered by FCFP, or to learn more about ways to make a difference in your community, contact the Community Foundation office at 570-321-1500.
Raise the Region will begin Wednesday, March 8th at 6:00 p.m. and end Thursday, March 9th at 11:59 p.m. To find a complete list of eligible nonprofits to which you can donate, head to http://www.raisetheregion.org. This gives community members an opportunity to support local nonprofits by helping them raise as much money as possible! Donations from this strategic and unified effort will support local nonprofits in addressing the increasing needs of our region. Your contribution will help them in creating more vibrant communities and ultimately help our North Central Pennsylvania region thrive! The Raise the Region website will also feature a live leaderboard where nonprofits and donors can track donations by organization in real-time. The leaderboard will list nonprofits in the order of most gifts. You will also be able to view the amount raised per nonprofit.
