Community Giving Stimulus Supports 254 Central Ohio Nonprofit Organizations
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Columbus Foundation, its donors, and the community responded generously to the growing needs of central Ohio nonprofits by contributing more than $1.2 million to strengthen the community during PowerPhilanthropy(R) Match Day 2.0 November 18-19.
The Columbus Foundation matched $300,000 in gifts during Match Day 2.0 in the amount of 50 cents of every dollar contributed, with a maximum match of $1,250 for a $2,500 donation. All matching funds were exhausted within 34 minutes of the start of the public match at 2:00 p.m. on November 19. Many continued to give after the matching funds were exhausted, some as much as $25,000.
"Match Day 2.0 shows that Columbus is unmatched in its responsiveness to those in need," Douglas F. Kridler, president and CEO of The Columbus Foundation said. "The Columbus Foundation devoted an enormous amount of human and financial resources to make this happen for our community, and we are elated to have helped donors and the public throughout our community help others."
Giving was top of mind for Columbus, Ohio kindergartners in Martha Mercuri's Berwick Alternative Elementary School classroom. Her 27 students had been collecting pennies and donated $100 to Ohio Nature Education, a nonprofit offering environmental education programs, and secured $150 for the organization.
"We're a math and science school and we are always looking at ways to help and protect animals," Mercuri said. "My kids knew at 2:00 p.m. today we needed to get online to make our donation."
Match Day 2.0 was created to elevate the importance of programs and nonprofit initiatives throughout central Ohio during tough and uncertain economic times. Match Day 2.0 utilized the Foundation's online resource, PowerPhilanthropy, which the community can use to see detailed program, management, and financial information on more than 440 area nonprofits at www.columbusfoundation.org.
The launch of PowerPhilanthropy was celebrated with the initial Match Day in March 2008, which helped raise more than $815,000 for the community, and benefited 245 area nonprofits.
The Columbus Foundation is the trusted philanthropic advisor to 1,700 individuals, families, and businesses, who have created charitable funds to help others through the most effective philanthropy possible. Created in 1943, The Columbus Foundation is one of the ten largest community foundations in the United States.
SOURCE The Columbus Foundation
For further information: Carol Harmon of The Columbus Foundation, +1-614-545-3236 (office), +1-614-738-2755 (mobile)
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