You’ve likely seen it announced on every social media platform, while your inbox overflows with requests for gifts. Today, more money will be raised for North Texas charities than on any other single day of the year.
“We’re Texas, so of course we have the biggest giving day in the country,” says Jennifer Clifford, philanthropy officer for the Communities Foundation of Texas, which hosts the annual charitable bonanza that is North Texas Giving Day.
The giving takes place from 6 a.m. to midnight, with nonprofit organizations doing everything they can to attract donor dollars and bolster their programs. More than 2,200 charities across the region take part in the day, largely for the chance to earn bonus funds for the donations they garner.
Bonuses dollars are awarded to charities who bring in the largest number of donations, like Lakewood’s Duck Team 6 Street Dog Rescue did with 434 individual donations last year. Bonuses are also given for the largest increase in donations, having the most volunteers participate and other markers, which is why your favorite charities are hoping you’ll be generous today.
In September’s edition, we profiled North Texas Giving Day as it exists in Lakewood/East Dallas, one of the most generous regions of the city. More than 7,700 donations were made from our neighborhood in 2015, with an average size of $209.27. In total, more than $2 million was raised for East Dallas charities last year, a record organizers are hoping to break today. With nearly $7 million raised before 10 a.m., seems like they’re well on their way.
North Texas Giving Day activities take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at NorthPark Center. You can find a full range of performances from some of the nonprofits who are raising funds today. The schedule includes:
11 a.m. – Lone Star Wind Orchestra
11:30 a.m. – Shakespeare Dallas
11:50 a.m. – Remarks from Susan Swan Smith of Communities Foundation of Texas
Noon – Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folkorico
12:30 p.m. – Junior Players
1 p.m. – Texas Boys Choir
1:15 p.m. – Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts Dance Company
1:30 p.m. – Dallas Children’s Theater
1:50 p.m. – Prize drawing for registered and present nonprofit in honor of Communities Foundation of Texas
2 p.m. – Dallas Black Dance Theatre
