10th Annual Give Big Gallatin Valley Raises Over $3 Million for Local Nonprofits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2024
CONTACT:
Anna Burkholder | Marketing & Communications Manager
One Valley Community Foundation
(406) 587- 6262 ext. 60
anna@onevalley.org
www.GiveBigGV.org
10th Annual Give Big Gallatin Valley Raises Over $3 Million for Local Nonprofits
One Valley Community Foundation’s annual giving day raises record-breaking dollars for 273 local nonprofits.
Gallatin County, MT - On Friday, May 3rd, One Valley Community Foundation celebrated a significant achievement as their 10th annual Give Big Gallatin Valley event raised over $3 million for local nonprofits. Starting at 6:00 pm on Thursday, May 2nd, our community came together for 24 hours of generosity with 5,951 donors supporting 273 local organizations through 12,843 gifts. Final numbers will be announced on Thursday, May 9th, but the current giving total is $3,104,649 as of Tuesday morning.
“Going into Give Big 2024, we didn’t know what to expect,” shared Bridget Wilkinson, One Valley Community Foundation’s President & CEO. “With heightened service demands, inflation, and market instability, the past year tested our nonprofit sector profoundly. Yet, our community rose to the occasion, reaffirming our collective commitment to the important work of local organizations. This is the essence of Give Big – a testament to our community's unmatched generosity and dedication.”
Give Big Gallatin Valley is a 24-hour giving initiative providing donors with a centralized platform to support numerous local organizations. Since its launch in 2015, Give Big has generated nearly $17.4 million for 465 nonprofits in Gallatin County, establishing itself as Montana's largest giving day. As part of their mission to connect people who care to the causes that matter, One Valley hosts Give Big to bridge the gap between individuals and the needs that exist in their community.
EJ Porth, Associate Director of Gallatin Valley Land Trust, reflects on Give Big's impact on our community’s nonprofits over the past decade: “For the last ten years, Give Big has energized our staff. The collective impact has introduced our mission to new people and grown our GVLT family of supporters. Philanthropy drives impact, and a rising tide lifts all boats. This community initiative not only fuels our trails and conservation mission but also lifts up the amazing work of our partner nonprofits. It has transformed the capacity of our nonprofit sector to address the challenges and opportunities of our growing community.”
On Thursday evening, One Valley collaborated with local leaders to present Give Big Fest, a series of gatherings celebrating the diverse nonprofits across Gallatin County communities. In West Yellowstone, supporters convened at Yellowstone Beer Co. for a lively meet and greet alongside an entertaining meat raffle, with proceeds benefiting participating nonprofits. Big Sky's event showcased 13 organizations, including live music and the exciting Music in the Mountains lineup release. Bozeman hosted nearly 80 nonprofits at Ferguson Farms, offering a range of performances, art activities, and a bingo card challenge where attendees could win nonprofit merchandise and contribute $750 to their chosen organization. Belgrade's nonprofits convened at Bar 3 BBQ for interactive activities, while Three Forks' main street buzzed with nonprofits engaging supporters about their missions.
Kristin VanDeWalle, Executive Director of Befrienders, shared, “What is the beginning of May without Give Big! Give Big has become a major community event over the past ten years. How better to kick it off than with community fairs across the County? The fair was spectacular and exciting with the large number of community members attending. We had fun and met a lot of wonderful people and nonprofits!”
With each passing year, Give Big strengthens the fabric of our community, fostering connections between individuals, businesses, and nonprofits, all working towards a common goal of creating a better, more vibrant Gallatin County. As the first decade of Give Big comes to a close, we reflect on its impact with extreme gratitude and look forward to the transformative potential of the next ten years.
About One Valley Community Foundation
One Valley Community Foundation is the nonprofit organization that identifies and addresses the priorities and concerns of Gallatin County with the intent of making the greatest positive change while charting a path and helping to maintain what makes our Gallatin Valley communities unique. One Valley does this by connecting donors with the causes they care about, managing funds to strengthen local communities, offering tools and opportunities to support local nonprofits, and facilitating collaboration to accelerate solutions to regional challenges. One Valley hosts multiple community-wide initiatives, including the Gallatin County Regional Housing Coalition, a convening of diverse partners working to address housing affordability and attainability in Gallatin County. For more information, visit www.onevalley.org.
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