Fairfield County’s Giving Day raises over $1 million

Mar 10, 2015

Donations to nearly 400 local nonprofits in 24 hours totaled $1,066,091Print

NORWALK, March 6, 2015—Fairfield County’s second annual Giving Day (March 5) raised a whopping $1,066,091 for nearly 400 Fairfield County nonprofits, thanks to 14,022 online donations and 13 business and foundation sponsorships.

Initiated last year by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Giving Day is a 24-hour period when everyone in Fairfield County is encouraged to “give where you live” by going to FCGives.org and donating to participating local nonprofit organizations.

“Our goal was to raise one million dollars in twenty-four hours for Fairfield County nonprofits,” said Juanita James, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “The outpouring of donations from Fairfield County residents with the cash prize sponsorships from our generous business community exceeded our goal. Thank you to everyone who participated.”

Twenty-eight nonprofits won cash prizes throughout the day. The prizes were funded by lead sponsor Bank of America and other Fairfield County business and foundation sponsors. All combined, Fairfield County’s Giving Day raised $1,066,091 for 386 nonprofits serving Fairfield County.

Bill Tommins, Southern Connecticut market president, Bank of America, said: “Giving Day not only demonstrated the generosity of our community, it helped cultivate a new generation of donors. This support will help local nonprofits continue to deliver the vital services they provide throughout Fairfield County.”

Curtain Call and Wildlife in Crisis were the two top winners. Donations and cash prizes totaled $82,203 for Curtain Call and $76,890 for Wildlife in Crisis.

Top 10 Nonprofits by Money Raised

Organization Town Donations Cash Prize Total
Curtain Call Stamford 1,160 4 $82,203
Wildlife in Crisis Weston 327 2 $76,890
Music on the Hill Weston 323 2 $53,275
Domus Kids, Inc Stamford 446 1 $38,481
Cardinal Shehan Center Bridgeport 66 $16,515
The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Newtown 95 1 $13,936
Childcare Learning Centers Stamford 28 $13,540
Adopt-A-Dog Inc Greenwich 126 $13,330
Family & Children’s Agency Norwalk 258 1 $12,595
Stamford Center for the Arts/The Palace Stamford 38 $11,869

 

Top 10 Nonprofits by Number of Donations

Organization Town # of Donations
Curtain Call Stamford 1,160
Domus Kids, Inc. Stamford 446
The Ridgefiled Chorale Ridgefield 400
Wildlife In Crisis Weston 327
Music on the Hill Weston 323
Family & Children’s Agency Norwalk 258
Ben’s Bells Project Newtown 200
Ben’s Lighthouse Newtown 185
SoundWaters Stamford 183
Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS) Bethel 182

As for cash prize winners, four nonprofits received the top prizes totaling $70,000 for the most unique donors and the most dollars raised:

Most Unique Donors

Organization Town # Unique Donors Prize
Curtain Call Stamford 1,890 $25,000
Music on the Hill Weston 1,655 $15,000

Most Dollars Raised

Organization Town Most $ Raised Prize
Wildlife in Crisis Weston $21,662 $20,000
Domus Kids, Inc. Stamford $19,744 $10,000

Other Cash Prizes
Launch Prizes
Twenty nonprofits each received $1,000 as the first to receive 25 unique donations of $25 or more:

Organization     Town
Amos House, Inc. Danbury
Center for Contemporary Printmaking Norwalk
Curtain Call Stamford
Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS) Bethel
Daniel Trust Foundation Bridgeport
Family & Children’s Agency Norwalk
Music on the Hill Weston
Music Theatre of Connecticut, Inc. Norwalk
Pequot Library Southport
Ridgefield Chorale Ridgefield
Ridgefield Theater Barn Ridgefield
Scholarship America Stamford
Silvermine Guild of Artists, Inc. New Canaan
SoundWaters Stamford
Stamford Center for the Arts/The Palace Theatre Stamford
STAR, Inc. Norwalk
Strays & Others, Inc. New Canaan
TAILS – The Alliance In Limiting Strays Westport
Westport Country Playhouse Westport
Wildlife In Crisis Weston

Power Hours
Four $1,000 cash prizes were awarded for nonprofits with the most unique donors during power hours throughout Giving Day. In addition, two random $1,000 prize drawings took place for all nonprofits that received donations during two of the power hours:

Organization Town
Curtain Call (2) Stamford
Greenwich Alliance for Education Greenwich
Liberation Programs, Inc. Norwalk
Ridgefield Chorale (2) Ridgefield

Drawings
Three $500 cash prizes were awarded by drawings during a Home Stretch Celebration last night:

Organization Town
Child Advocates of Connecticut Norwalk
Inspirica, Inc. Stamford
The Newtown Foundation Newtown

Giving Day Facebook Photo Contest
Three prizes were awarded to winners of the Giving Day Facebook photo contest:

Organization Town Prize
The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary Sanctuary $1,000
STAR, Inc. Norwalk $500
Fairfield Theater Company Fairfield $250

A list of all participating nonprofits and how much they raised is posted on FCGives.org.

“Fairfield County’s Giving Day isn’t just about raising money for local nonprofits, it’s also about raising awareness that you can make a real impact right here in Fairfield County,” said Juanita James. “Nearly four hundred local nonprofits working in areas like the arts, education, youth development, housing, animal welfare, and more were able to showcase their important work and raise funds that will allow them to do more. Thank you to all who answered our call to ‘give where you live.’”

Along with Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and Bank of America, Fairfield County’s Giving Day was supported by Deloitte, HHG, Cummings and Lockwood, Day Pitney, First County Bank, Neuberger Berman, Purdue Pharma, Tauck, The TNS Group, WEBE 108, Moffly Media and News Channel 12.

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards, and has awarded $180 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. For more information, visit FCCFoundation.org.