(WOAY) – Philanthropy West Virginia members step up to meet the urgent needs of nonprofits throughout the state for the short-term and long-term during the COVID-19 pandemic with Take 5 to Give 5 matching fund campaign.
The 24-hour day campaign encourages all West Virginians to take five minutes to make a financial contribution to nonprofit relief funds across 53 counties who are responding to their communities’ needs. The initial Matching Fund Sponsors for the Take 5 to Give 5 campaign are Toyota and West Virginia American Water, who have pledged to match funds up to $0.50 for every $1 donated to the participating relief funds up to $150,000. The initiative is part of #GivingTuesdayNow – a global day of giving on May 5, 2020. All funds contributed to the relief funds will be used locally in West Virginia communities to meet the demand for critical services such as hunger relief, medical care, senior services, children, general operating support for nonprofits, and more impacted by the crisis.
“We have seen the resiliency of West Virginians in the face of this pandemic. Take 5 to Give 5 gives West Virginia residents a chance to stand united and use grassroots generosity to show that we are all in this together,” said James Shott, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc. “Even as many face financial uncertainty, generosity is not about size rather leveraging giving to support so many in need. From checking in on a neighbor to donating to a local relief fund, every act of kindness is a beacon of hope in this crisis. We all have something to give, and every act of human consideration and kindness matters.”
Philanthropy WV’s goal is to raise at least $250,000 total across the state through 16 relief funds managed by participating community foundations and United Ways. This will extend the availability of relief funds through part of the summer when need is expected to continue. The donations of $5,000, $500, $50, or $5 from fellow citizens will support the work nonprofits are already doing in their communities. The relief funds are supporting a variety of causes and issues amplified during this pandemic. These relief funds are reputable and are deploying fast tracked funds to support organizations such as: local food banks, identifying shelter options, the distribution of healthcare supplies to those on the frontlines, and general operating support.
Those interested in supporting West Virginia’s participating relief funds can visit www.philanthropywv.org/take-5-to-give-5-wv.
Philanthropy WV is West Virginia’s and central Appalachia’s philanthropic leadership network representing private, family, corporate, community and public grantmaking foundations; corporate giving programs; United Ways; private philanthropists; and professional advisors. Philanthropy WV is committed to advancing its mission of “Strengthening Philanthropy in the Mountain State.” For more information about Philanthropy WV, visit: www.philanthropywv.org or follow on Twitter and Facebook: @PhilanthropyWV
