Statewide day of giving to help Cache Valley non-profits

A handful of Cache Valley non-profits are among 500 statewide hoping to share in what could be $2 million raised Thursday in Utah’s third annual 24-hour day of giving known as Love UT Give UT.

Logan native Blair Hodson is the Director of Initiatives for the Community Foundation of Utah which organizes this fundraising event.

“Registration began the first of January and right now there are just over 500 non-profit organizations and schools who will participate statewide on Thursday,” said Hodson.

Similar events had been done successfully in other states when, in 2013, an attempt to bring it to Utah was begun.

“We reached out, we referenced Utah non-profits and schools to an event in Minnesota and told them we would like to bring that style of event to Utah in 2013,” said Hodson.

It grew slowly that first year, but in 2014 more people embraced the concept and leading up to this week’s event it is considered a staple of fundraising for Utah non-profits.

“It is an event that many non-profits anticipate to raise funds for their operations. These are unrestricted monies that are raised to be used for their needs.”

The Community Foundation has established a platform on the internet — loveUTgiveUT.org — and any non-profits or schools can register.

“Once registered, that non-profit can create its own page and it is linked to the platform. Right now there are 500 pages that have been created for individual non-profits and schools.”

Hodson said it is possible to go to LoveUTGiveUT.org and search for a specific non-profit and go to its page and learn about what they are doing. Or a search can also be done by topic or a search can be done to see all of the non-profits in given categories.

“There are very well run non-profit organizations in Cache Valley that are worthy of people’s donations. Many of them operate with small staffs that are probably lacking in some of the basic resources they need to operate more efficiently.”

Hodson said there are already over $400,000 in matching and challenge grants registered on the website.

“Also, we have created a competition among the charities where the organizations that get the most donors become eligible for $80,000 in prize money.”

Those Cache Valley non-profits now registered include Bridgerland Literacy, Cache Community Food Pantry, Cache Humane Society, Cache Valley Center for the Arts, Child & Family Support Center, Common Ground Outdoor Adventures, First Presbyterian Church, Logan Youth Shakespeare, OPTIONS for Independence, Public School Partnership, Sunshine Terrace Foundation, The Center for Pregnancy Choices, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Utah State University, Whittier Community Center and Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse.

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