$1.6 Million Midlands Gives Milestone Met By 11:30AM
The need is great. The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on everyone, including our region’s nonprofits. Canceled fundraisers, a decline in donations from corporations and individuals due to market jitters, the absence of volunteers, and increased demand are taxing nonprofits abilities to operate. Donations made through Midlands Gives will help our nonprofits overcome COVID–19.
Tuesday’s mission brings the region together as one community, raising money and awareness for local nonprofits in 11 Midlands counties. In addition to being a year-round resource for donors across the Midlands, the initiative amplifies donations during an 18-hour online giving challenge the first Tuesday of May. Since its inception in 2014 the event has raised $9.3 million for local nonprofits.
Giving Tuesday is now open at MidlandsGives.org. Embrace your inner philanthropist, and give generously!
Giving Totals and Highlights:
6 a.m.: $315,731.63 via 2,769 gifts. Early giving for Midlands Gives began Tuesday,
April 21, 2020, when all donations started counting toward leaderboard totals to provide
a strong foundation of donations for giving day.
9:25 a.m.: $1,094,524 via 5,592 gifts.
11:49 a.m.: $1,633,764 via 9,928 gifts.
Prizes Awarded:
Dominion Energy Light the Way Prize — $2,000 awarded to a randomly drawn nonprofit
whose primary category aligns with Dominion Energy’s four giving focus areas: education,
environment, human services, and community vitality (arts and culture/community
improvement).
Education: The Richland Library Friends and Foundation
Environment: The Gills Creek Watershed Association
Human Services: Dickerson Children's Advocacy Center
Community Vitality: Camp Cole BB&T Now Truist First Gift Prize — $1,000 awarded to the nonprofit that receives the first gift
of the day in the following categories:
Small budget: South Carolina Nurses Foundation, Inc.
Medium budget: Animal Protection League of SC
Large budget: Alston Wilkes Society
New nonprofit: First Presbyterian Church Counseling Center, Inc.
Returning nonprofit: The Unumb Center for Neurodevelopment Aflac
Power Hours — $2,000 added to one small, medium and large budget nonprofit that has
the most unique donors during the following hours: 7 – 7:59 a.m.; 10 – 10:59 a.m.; 12 – 12:59
p.m.; 6 – 6:59 p.m.; 11 – 11:59 p.m.
7 a.m. Power Hour winners:
o Small budget: The Justin Pepper Foundation
o Medium budget: Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services
o Large budget: Historic Columbia
Dominion Energy Daybreak Prize — $5,000 awarded to a randomly drawn nonprofit from
each of the 10 categories and to a nonprofit participating in Midlands Gives for the first time
(new nonprofit).
Animal: SQ Rescue, Inc.
Arts and Culture: Columbia Marionette Theatre
Community Improvement: EngenuitySC
Education and Scholarships: SASS Go
Environment: South Carolina Wildlife Federation
Faith-Based: Oliver Gospel
Health: Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands
Human Services: Habitat for Humanity-Richland/Lexington County
Veterans and Military: Fisher House of Columbia SC
Youth Development: Lynn Brown Inspires: Young CEO's Of Tomorrow
New Nonprofit: McKissick Museum
