Southwest Washington demonstrated the power of local giving on Thursday when Give More 24 surpassed its $1 million goal, doubling it by the end of the night.
The event, hosted by the Greater Vancouver Chamber on Thursday, Sept. 25, began at midnight and saw donations pour in at a record pace. By 10 a.m., the campaign had already crossed the $1 million mark. Just before 10:30 p.m., the total hit $2 million.
Give More 24 brings together hundreds of local nonprofits for a single 24-hour period of digital giving. Donors browse causes online, chip in to organizations of their choice, and watch progress unfold in real time on live leaderboards.
Chamber Chief Operating Officer Janet Kenefsky said she and her staff worked the entire day, fanning out to dozens of nonprofit-hosted events to witness the surge of community support.
“At 10 we hit $1 million … that was our goal, we’re just like, ‘that’s crazy,’” Kenefsky said. “It’s the community support, it’s the connections, it’s the community's willingness to step up and help.”
Kenefsky said what stood out most wasn’t just the dollars, but how widely residents took part. By the end of the event, well over 4,400 donors had participated in the day of giving.
“If you look at the leaderboard … that means there’s a lot of activation of individual donors happening and that is the number we’re most proud of.”
The Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, which comprised 99 percent of the late philanthropists' estate, played a crucial role in reestablishing the program in Southwest Washington. Their son, Michael Lynch, expressed his profound encouragement at the community's generous response.
“I’m not surprised. I’m pleased. I’m humbled,” Lynch said. “It shows us that by working together we can get great things done.”
The Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund has committed to providing three years of support to ensure Give More 24 thrives, while the chamber itself has pledged to sustain the program in the long term.
North County Food Bank tops leaderboard
Among the big winners was North County Community Food Bank, which landed at the top of the “extra large participant” leaderboard and hit its $100,000 fundraising goal. With another $70,500 in matching funds secured from community partners, the organization will see more than $170,000 go toward keeping families fed.
The food bank’s goat yoga fundraiser at Battle Ground’s Central Park once again drew crowds, with several familiar faces. Chief John Nohr of Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue, a board member of the food bank, brought fellow firefighters after taking good-natured ribbing for his goat yoga debut last year. Seen beside him was Fire District 3 Chief Chris Drone.
“He dragged me into it,” Drone laughed. “It was fun.”
Executive Director Liz Cerveny said community support, from fire stations to families to local businesses, fuels the food bank’s mission.
“I’m excited, it’s so heartwarming to see the wide array of donors that we have managed to develop wonderful relationships with that care about feeding our seniors and our kids and our families in need,” she said. “They rise to the occasion every year and surprise me, and this year is no different.”
Cerveny credited instructor Krissy Rasmussen-Beckler of La Center, whom she has known for years, for making goat yoga possible.
“It’s great to see the number of people and the new faces this year, and the goats always put smiles on everybody’s faces, and Krissy does a bang-up job,” Cerveny said.
The food bank also hosted the Washington State Department of Health’s Care-A-Van, which provided free health screenings, including glucose testing, vision checks, and mental health resources. Cerveny said the two activities supported the nonprofit’s goal to support physical and mental health.
Halfway through the day, Cerveny said she was humbled by the outpouring of support.
“I am very blessed. Our supporters are truly there when we need them,” she said. “The biggest aspect is communicating the level of need … when you ask, they step up.”
For nonprofits across the region, Cerveny said the day of giving is vital.
“This is an opportunity that is unbelievably strong … many times [we] raise more than [we] ever could with the hours that we spend writing grants,” she said. “It’s a huge, huge help to us.”
Readers who missed the day of giving can find and support local nonprofits at givemore24.org.
