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Raise the Region brings in $1.45M for community

The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania held its sixth Raise the Region fundraising event Wednesday and Thursday, generating just over $1.45 million in donations to non-profit organizations across Lycoming, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties.

“Northcentral Pennsylvania showed its true spirit of philanthropy by donating $1,457,895 to 314 nonprofit organizations,” according to a news release from the foundation. “The 30-hour online fundraiser had thousands of donors make 9,002 gifts. Since starting in 2013, Raise the Region has collectively received $7.2 million in donations for the benefit of local nonprofit organizations.”

The release said nonprofits that received donations can expect to receive their checks within 30 days.

In addition to the thousands of online donations made, nonprofits had opportunities to win a multitude of money prizes from Raise the Region sponsors throughout the 30-hour event.

Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships donated $150,000 to be used as stretch funds along with other prizes.

“Thank you to the foundation and to all the participating nonprofits for once again challenging each other and the community to outperform last year’s event,” said Aubrey Alexander. “My family and I are very proud to be a part of Raise the Region and we hope to be a part of it for many years to come.”

Other monetary prizes and incentives totaled over $65,000 with contributions from Larson Design Group, M&T Bank, Subaru, Toyota Motor Corporation, UPMC Health Plan and UPMC Susquehanna.

Some prize opportunities were inspired by the year 1916, in which the foundation was initially created as the Williamsport Foundation. For example, the foundation added $1,000 onto the donation made by the 1,916th donor, which went to Leadership Susquehanna Valley.

The Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships also offered grand prizes of $5,000 to the top small and large nonprofits with the most unique donors over the course of the fundraiser. The top small nonprofit was ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund Inc. and the large nonprofit winner was the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, with small being defined as nonprofits with budgets of $149,999 or less while large nonprofits have budgets of $150,000 or more.

Other prizes included Larson Design Group’s $1,000 Passionate Giving Prize, awarded to the nonprofit with the single largest gift during the 30-hour period, which was the River Valley Regional YMCA, and Subaru’s County Prize of $1,000 awarded randomly to a nonprofit in Lycoming County, which went to Eldred Township Volunteer Fire Department.

“The foundation is proud to provide the platform for this philanthropic phenomenon,” said Jennifer D. Wilson, foundation president and CEO. “The financial success of the program is attributed to the generosity of sponsors and to the diligent work of area nonprofits engaging, cultivating and soliciting donors.”

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