page 2 kitsapweek Friday, May 2, 2014
Giving back in Kitsap just got much easier
Local effort makes giving to nonprofits quick and easy, over 24 hours on May 9
“They call it the ‘Give Big.’ When I was interviewed for the job over here, I told them that if I was hired, I wanted to try something like it.” And so By Leslie Kelly was born the Kol Medina Kitsap Week Kitsap Great Give. As Medina t was an idea that Kol explains, it’s a 24-hour Medina thought he wanted to try. And now, time when anyone can give any amount to the the first Kitsap Great nonprofits in Kitsap Give is set for County that sign up May 6. to participate. The For 24 hours Cover financial donations on that day are made through Story anyone can one website, www. give to their kitsapgreatgive.org. favorite parAnd by participating in ticipating Kitsap nonthe event, donors’ givings profit and their gift can will be increased through earn more value. What that means is more money the give itself. The way it works is that for that charity. the Kitsap Great Give has “I heard about it hapfinancial sponsors who pening in King County,” have given funds that will said Medina, executive be divided up among the director of the Kitsap participating nonprofits. Community Foundation For example, Medina for about a year and a half.
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said, the nonprofits will be splitting about $100,000 given by sponsors, based on the percentages that each nonprofit gets on the day of the give. “If we raise what we hope to—a half million dollars—then each dollar given to a charity will be matched with 20 cents from the sponsorships we’ve raised,” he said. The event has three main goals, he said. First is to raise $125,000 in sponsorships. “We met that,” he said. “In fact, we raised about $135,000 so far. That money will be used for the matches, along with about $25,000 of it that will go for the costs of the event, including staff time.” The second goal was to get at least 100 nonprofits in Kitsap County to take part. To date, there are 197 nonprofits signed up
John Costello volunteers at North Kitsap Fishline—one organization to donate to—during the 2013 holiday season. The food bank serves North Kitsap’s hungry throughout the year and is particularly helpful around the holidays. Richard D. Oxley to be a part of the Kitsap Great Give. The third goal was to raise $500,000 on the day of the event for the participating nonprofits.
“So far, it’s looking great for that,” he said. “We have a lot of people interested and planning to give.” In King County, Medina
On the cover
Thank you for your support. You came. You gave. You volunteered. Your contribution keeps our commitment to excellent care strong.
(Top left) West Sound Wildlife Shelter helps heal local injured wildlife. (Top right) The Bremerton Symphony Association has youth orchestras for young, aspiring musicians. (Bottom left) After it closed in the ’80s, volunteers reopened the Admiral Theatre that now hosts touring attractions. (Bottom right) PAWS of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap finds families for feline friends through two adoption centers; one in Kingston and another on Bainbridge Island.
said $3.6 million was raised the first year. That amount doubled in the second year when $7.4 million was raised. One important step to the success of the event was when the United Way of Kitsap County signed on, Medina said. “That was something that helped this event so much,” he said. “We are grateful for their participation.” While there is no gathering planned, and See Give, Page 9
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