The Big Give

On November 11, 2011, a 24 hour giving opportunity to more than 600 Central Ohio nonprofits took place. $8.7 million dollars was raised during an amazing 24 hour period. The Big Give was created by The Columbus Foundation, an organization where they help donors create funds to support causes they care about.

The holiday season is right around the corner, and for most, giving is a natural part of the holidays. Though, donating is not on the top of the list for those who are experiencing tough financial hardships right now. Another problem people face is the stigma that they have to give an enormous donation for it to matter. This is not the case. Organization rely heavily on donations, and given the economy, many are facing tighter budgets. The Big Give only required a minimum donation of $20! I think this is a fair and reasonable amount for someone who would otherwise think they can't afford to donate.

I think The Big Give gave donating a new modern twist, with the help of several social media outlets such as twitter and facebook. These outlets were crucial in keeping people up to date on the going on's of the event. Twitter and Facebook were on fire during this 24 hour period, with organizations posting and tweeting about how to donate. The end result was fantastic and with an additional $1 million matching pool which helped donations go further. The Big Give gave back to so many organizations and shows that even during hard economic times, people are still generous to donate. HandsOn Central Ohio and other organizations are so thankful for The Columbus Foundation and all that it does.