Video Contest Encourages Residents to Share Stories of Their Favorite Local Nonprofits

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation Launches “WHY I GIVE!’ Video Contest to

Help Nonprofits Shine as Fairfield County’s Giving Day Nears on February 27

-February 1^st is the Official Deadline for Nonprofits to register for Giving Day 2020

(Norwalk, CT) Fairfield County’s Community Foundation announced the launch of its Fairfield County’s Giving Day WHY I GIVE video contest to give local nonprofits participating in Giving Day the opportunity to truly sizzle, spread their message, and create awareness for their missions.  Contest video submissions can be made from January 28, 2020 through Friday, February 18, 2020 at 11:59 pm ET. The winner will be announced on Fairfield County’s Giving Day! Learn more and review the Official Rules here. Fairfield County’s Giving Day starts at the stroke of midnight on February 27, 2020.

Nonprofits now have the opportunity to shine even brighter and are asking you to help in the second annual WHY I GIVE video contest.  Feeling creative? Find your inner philanthropist and share your passion when it comes to giving back to your favorite local nonprofits. The Community Foundation invites you to share which Fairfield County nonprofit matters most to you by uploading a short video, 60-seconds or less, to your Facebook page and joining the WHY I GIVE contest. The eligible video entry which receives the most “likes” on Facebook will receive a special $2,500 grant, courtesy of Bank of America, champion sponsor of Fairfield County’s Giving Day. The video contest is accepting entries now as Fairfield County’s Community Foundation celebrates the seventh year of the region’s biggest day of philanthropy.

Entering is easy. Here’s how WHY I GIVE works:

1. Create a short video of 60 seconds or less sharing your heartfelt message about WHY YOU GIVE to your favorite local nonprofit participating in Fairfield County’s Giving Day 2020. Be sure to mention only ONE nonprofit per video. For a list of participating nonprofits, https://www.FCGives.org.
2. Upload the video to your Facebook page and in the body of your post be sure to include the following tags and hashtag:
   Use the hashtag #WhyIGive20
   • Tag the nonprofit you mention in your video
   • TagFairfield County’s Community Foundation (@fccfoundation)
   – Upload as many videos as you’d like, but be sure to mention only ONE nonprofit per video for a chance to win!

3. Spread the word! Get your Facebook fans and followers to “Like” your video. The video with the most likes will win! Remember to set your video to public if you are uploading to a personal page.

“Tell us why you give! Each and every video posted in the WHY I GIVE! contest raises awareness for the vibrant and vital community of local nonprofits participating in Fairfield County’s Giving Day 2020. We can’t wait to actually see some of the donors who participate each year in Giving Day and hear and see them sharing why they give to their favorite local nonprofits,” said Juanita T. James, President and CEO, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.

With the deadline for nonprofits to register for Giving Day 2020 quickly approaching on February 1^st, this contest is a gentle reminder that you have to ‘be in it to win it’. And in case raising over $1.7 million in 24 hours for 415 Fairfield County nonprofits wasn’t exciting enough last year, the Community Foundation is determined to increase the momentum and excitement of this event even further for 2020.

The Community Foundation is excited to amplify local voices through the ‘WHY I GIVE’ video contest, building heightened awareness and support for hundreds of vital local nonprofits that serve as the cornerstones of our communities and adds a fun and fabulous dimension to Giving Day.  Last year’s winner of the WHY I GIVE contest was Fairfield Center Stage. Fairfield Center Stage’s mission is to lead a culturally diverse collective of local artists to provide a quality, accessible, and affordable theatre arts experience for the community, by the community. Their winning video can be seen here.

Fairfield County’s Giving Day was first initiated in 2014 by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation to empower the nonprofit community and provide anyone the ability to participate in local philanthropy. Since its inception, in total, $7,655,102 has been raised for more than 1,200 nonprofits. In just 24-hours last year, Fairfield County’s Giving Day 2019 raised over $1.7 million for 415 nonprofits with 16,575 total gifts from 11,742 individual donors. It has also become an opportunity for many other nonprofits to join in the momentum established over the past five years and challenge their donors, new and old, to give as little as $10 to make a difference in the Fairfield County community.

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is proud to partner with champion sponsor, Bank of America. Its dedication and the dedication of all of the Giving Day partners and sponsors to the greater community of nonprofits in Fairfield County helps to power the success of Giving Day. Additional  Fairfield County’s Giving Day 2020 sponsors include County Sponsors – Hearst Connecticut Media Group and Sound Tigers; Media Sponsors include Moffly Media; Star 99.9; 95.9 THE FOX; WICC 600; WEBE 108; Barrett Outdoor and News12 Connecticut; Neighborhood sponsors  – NEWMAN’s OWN Foundation; Bridgewater; Barbara Benton Davis Fund and Herbert B. West Award Fund;  Power Hour sponsors  –  The Jeniam Foundation, Band Central and Town Square sponsors  –  Neuberger Berman; Webster Private Bank; Day Pitney; and the Event sponsor  – Pinstripes. Fairfield County’s Giving Day is made possible through generous contributions from local businesses and individuals. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Mike Rosen, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Chief Revenue and Business Development Officer at 203.750.3242.