Big Give Pee Dee begins countdown to non-profit giving day

Flip to May on your new 2015 calendar and mark a red heart on the 5th – that’s the day designated for a regional effort to give local non-profits a much-needed boost.

The Big Give Pee Dee is a multi-media campaign that aims to transform the way local residents think about – and contribute to – area charities. Built upon the idea that everyone can be a philanthropist, the project affords individuals a simplified means of supporting Pee Dee non-profits through a one-day, online fundraiser.

“With a simple click of a mouse, donors visiting a central website on May 5th can contribute to the local non-profit(s) of their choice,” said Sarah Shelly, executive director of Eastern Carolina Community Foundation, the organizing agency for the regional event. “No matter the size of your contribution, you can be a philanthropist who makes a difference in the community. Our job is to make it easy to participate in ‘The Big Give Pee Dee’ so everyone has the chance to help affect positive change in our community.”

With a focus on making giving fun and easy, the project will use social, print and broadcast media, as well as word of mouth, to spread awareness about “giving day.” Participating non-profits will be spotlighted in the weeks leading up to May 5^th to increase awareness about the ways in which they impact our community. The aim is to give each organization a voice and “a face,” thereby raising community visibility. The campaign will culminate in a coordinated local “day of giving” effort, which will simultaneously be carried out by community foundations across the nation.

“One of the most appealing aspects of this project is to give people peace of mind where their charitable donations are concerned,” explained Shelley. “They can rest assured that monies contributed will stay right here in the Pee Dee and be used to help people living the Pee Dee. That’s not the case with so many charities these days. We are doing the homework for the donor, so they can give confidently.”

May is also a month during which there is a charitable “slump.” As philanthropic giving slows following the holiday push, contributions take a major dip and non-profits struggle to provide needed services.

“People are still hungry, still in need of clothing and shelter and other services beyond the holidays,” said Shelley. “Likewise, programs that support the health and well-being of the community at-large struggle to maintain momentum. It is the hope of Eastern Carolina Community Foundation to raise awareness and keep these ongoing needs in the forefront of people’s minds. The Big Give Pee Dee serves as a reminder that supporting area non-profits should be a year-round endeavor.”

Informational meetings for non-profits interested in participating will be held at Eastern Carolina Community Foundation, 154 W. Evans Street, Florence. To reserve a space, email BigGivePD@easterncarolinafoundationcf.org.

For more information on The Big Give Pee Dee, call Libby Wiersema at (843) 245-0792.