A 24-hour fundraising frenzy returns to support non-profits in Bay and Arenac counties

Starting at midnight on May 3, the Bay Area Community Foundation (BACF) will host its eighth annual Give Local Bay event, a 24-hour fundraising frenzy that benefits local Bay and Arenac county nonprofits.

After raising a record-breaking $161,000 last year, the foundation has set its sights on a new goal of $170,000 for 2022, according to Program Officer Erin Kreutzberg. (Read Route Bay City’s April 22, 2021 article about Give Local Bay 2021.)

Once again, LiUNA! Local 1098 is the presenting sponsor for the event, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is the prize sponsor. Over 45 non-profits are currently participating, and profiles are still being added to the page daily.

The event prides itself in making donation dollars go further by offering $25,000 in matching funds and $2,500 in incentive prizes. There are many opportunities for the community to be involved before and during the event, helping their favorite agencies earn those prizes.

For instance, the Social Media Mavens prize is interactive for the public and requires no donation. Simply like the BACF Facebook page, and vote for a favorite non-profit to help them win a $250 prize between April 28 and May 2.

The Spread the News prize simply asks people to share BACF’s Facebook Live video on April 28, and one person will be randomly selected who can then choose which non-profit they want to receive the $250 prize.

Donors can check the Prizes Page on May 3 to see if they are able to make their dollar go further for an organization in conjunction with a particular prize.

Kreutzberg explains that gift-giving has been made even easier: “This year, there is a fun new feature that is similar to going shopping. You can go in and you can add donations to various organizations and do it all in one checkout.”

In keeping with pandemic-era adjustments that were made, non-profits will again be able to access donations fairly quickly.

“We understand that a lot of non-profits are still struggling, so we want to make sure that they have access to the funds they earn day-of,” Kreutzberg says. Incentives and prizes earned during the event will go into each organization’s endowment fund.

Graphic courtesy of the Bay Area Community FoundationLeading into May 3, donors can participate in Sip Sip Hooray! for Give Local Bay by attending one or more of the seven participating establishments and ordering the Give Local Beverage; part of the proceeds will then go back to the incentive pool that benefits all of the non-profits.

The pre-event will take place at the Village Inn, 212 W Center St. in Linwood, on May 1 and 2. Sip Sip Hooray! continues during select hours on May 2 and 3 at the remaining six establishments throughout Bay County: Bier Garten, Cafe One Three, Coonan’s Irish Hub, Mulligan’s Pub, Tri-City Brewing Company, and Water Street Nutrition.

Kreutzberg acknowledges that most non-profits are currently swamped with needs.

“These 49 non-profit organizations coming out of the pandemic, they were the backbone of our community. When people fell on hard times, they were the ones to extend a hand and make sure we all got through it,” she says. “By giving back to the non-profits, it is really just ensuring a healthy and vibrant community for everyone.”