PARKERSBURG AREA COMMUNUTY FOUNDATION RAISES MORE THAN $460,000 FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS -"A Wonderful Day For Eveyrone" (05/07/2020) The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation & Regional Affiliates (PACF) announced that more than $460,000 was raised through its exciting 24-hour online giving campaign held on Tuesday, May 5. Nonprofits participating in Give Local MOV 2020 included 54 area groups with missions supporting animals; arts and culture; community improvement; education; environment; health; human services; and youth development. Organizations invited to participate were those with a charitable fund associated with PACF’s family of funds. Organizations raising the most funds included: FaithLink, Parkersburg YMCA, and Parkersburg Art Center. Organizations with the most online donors included: Parkersburg Art Center, FaithLink, and the Children’s Home Society of WV – Parkersburg. A key benefit of giving to the participating nonprofits on May 5 was the availability of 1:1 matching funds and incentive prizes. Several regional sponsors, led by Superior Toyota and Williamstown Bank, supplied matching funds that made the day even more exciting. In addition, several individuals/businesses offered private challenges to specific organizations and hourly prize incentives encouraged giving. “We had an extraordinary 24-hours yesterday in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” said Julie Posey, PACF’s Development and Communications Officer. “On behalf of the 54 participating organizations this year, the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation wishes to express its profound gratitude to everyone who supported this year’s outstanding Give Local MOV campaign. We are truly humbled and inspired by the outstanding generosity of so many people. To have a record-breaking event during a pandemic is just awesome.” While final numbers are still being confirmed, the FaithLink organization is the apparent winner of the Top Online Fundraiser award for the event with nearly $44,000 raised, and the Parkersburg Art Center, the apparent winner of the Top Number of Online Donors award, with 128 donors. The PACF will be adding an additional $1,000 to each of their award checks in recognition of their achievements. The PACF invites the public to check out the final Give Local MOV leaderboards at www.givelocalmov.org/leaderboards The Foundation also extends a special note of appreciation to everyone who supported its late-breaking “add-on” campaign to aid its regional COVID-19 response funds, the Hunger and Safety Net Funds. Philanthropy WV, a state-wide philanthropic organization presented a special challenge campaign to the PACF in recent days as part of a state-wide $250,000 challenge campaign called “Take Five to Give Five” that benefitted 18 different emergency relief funds operated by community foundations and United Way organizations in West Virginia. By using its Give Local MOV platform yesterday, the PACF raised $46,255 for it to distribute to relieve local hunger and emergency needs. “What a wonderful day for everyone,” said Judy Sjostedt, PACF’s Executive Director. “Thank you to all of this year’s supporters. And, congratulations to all of the organizational recipients. The Mid-Ohio Valley is a great place in which to live, work, and raise our families. We take care of each other here.”