Arizona Gives Day 2018 Raises More Than $2.5 Million for Nonprofits

PHOENIX (PRWEB) April 11, 2018

Hosted by the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and Arizona Grantmakers Forum, and presented by FirstBank, Arizona Gives Day 2018 raised a preliminary number of more than $2.5 million for 902 nonprofit organizations. Final tallies of the fundraising effort are still being calculated and the total is likely to rise.

Arizona Gives Day is an annual, statewide day of giving that invites Arizonans to support their favorite causes. Donations were both scheduled in advance and submitted online at http://www.azgives.org during the 24-hour window on Tuesday, April 3.

"We saw an overwhelming outpouring of generosity from donors this year, with more than 900 nonprofits receiving donations that day," said Kristen Merrifield, CEO of the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits. "This is just one indicator that Arizona Gives Day is accomplishing what we set out to do — fostering an incredible spirit of philanthropy."

For participating nonprofits, Arizona Gives Day offers an opportunity to raise awareness about their work, connect with new donors and win prize money to supplement individual donations. (The day has now helped raise more than $12.6 million for Arizona nonprofits since its founding in 2013.)

"The success of Arizona Gives Day is a great testament to the nonprofits throughout the State and the generosity of Arizona residents," said Bryce Lloyd, President - Phoenix of FirstBank. "To be part of the growth of this online giving moment since inception has been extremely rewarding to witness, not only because we're sponsors, but because we're proud Arizonans, too."

ARIZONA GIVES DAY 2018 FAST FACTS

$2.5 million raised in 24 hours online
17,640 online donations
902 organizations received online donations
1,053 organizations participated from across the state
260 organizations joined Arizona Gives Day for the first time
$180,000 in prize pool money was awarded (see below for prize winners)
Organizations by county: Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, Yuma; National, International
See all of the participating nonprofits throughout the state at http://www.azgives.org/nonprofits

ARIZONA GIVES DAY 2018 PRELIMINARY PRIZE WINNERS

For more prize winner information, please visit http://www.azgives.org/newsroom

Prize winners by county:

Cochise

• Oasis Sanctuary Foundation ($5,000)

Coconino

• Northern Arizona Pioneers' Historical Society ($5,000)
• Arizona Cattle Dog Rescue ($1,000)

Graham

• Our Neighbors Farm and Pantry ($5,000)

Maricopa

• Phoenix Rescue Mission ($13,750)
• Swift Youth Foundation ($2,500)
• Sold No More ($12,500)
• CO+HOOTS Foundation ($7,500)
• Daring Adventures ($5,000)
• Forever Loved Pet Sanctuary ($2,500)
• Lost Dogs Arizona ($2,500)
• Rusty's Angels Sanctuary ($2,500)
• Creative Contributions ($2,000)
• Arizona Animal Welfare League ($2,000)
• East Valley Children's Theatre ($2,000)
• Young Artist Society ($1,500)
• Musical Instrument Museum ($1,500)
• Gilbert Historical Society/HD South ($1,500)
• Parents of Addicted Loved Ones - PAL ($1,250)
• Pets on Wheels of Scottsdale ($1,250)
• Dream Catchers Foundation ($1,250)
• Homeless Youth Connection ($1,000)
• Steps of Love ($1,000)
• Salt River Wild Horse Management Group Inc. ($1,000)
• Boxer Luv Rescue ($1,000)
• Arouet Foundation ($1,000)
• St. Vincent de Paul ($1,000)
• Radiant Health Natural Medical Center ($1,000)
• Lost Our Home Pet Rescue ($1,000)
• Healing Hearts Animal Sanctuary, Inc. ($1,000)
• Rotten Rottie Rescue, Inc. ($1,000)
• National Kidney Foundation of Arizona ($1,000)

Navajo

• Northland Pioneer College Friends and Family ($5,250)
• Humane Society of the White Mountains ($4,000)
• The Hopi Foundation ($1,000)

Pima

• Hoofsnhorns Farm Sanctuary ($10,000)
• Watershed Management Group ($6,500)
• Pawsitively Cats, Inc. ($5,500)
• Make Way for Books ($5,000)
• GAP Ministries ($5,000)
• RAD (Rehabbing and Advocating for Dogs) Rescue ($4,000)
• Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona ($3,000)
• Ben's Bells Project ($2,500)
• KXCI Community Radio ($2,500)
• Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation ($2,500)
• Tu Nidito Children and Family Services ($2,500)
• Friends of Pima Animal Care Center ($2,500)
• Arizona Youth Partnership (AZYP) ($1,500)
• HOPE Animal Shelter ($1,500)
• Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption ($1,500)
• Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary ($1,500)
• Humane Society of Southern Arizona ($1,250)
• Parent Aid Child Abuse Prevention Center, Inc. ($1,000)
• Ironwood Tree Experience ($1,000)
• Gospel Rescue Mission, Inc. ($1,000)
• NAMI Southern Arizona ($1,000)
• All Souls Procession / Many Mouths One Stomach ($1,000)

Pinal

• Seeds of Hope ($12,500)
• Ironwood Pig Sanctuary ($1,000)

Yavapai

• Desert Star Community School, Inc. ($1,000)

Yuma

• Helping Hands of Yuma ($1,500)

SOURCES

Kristen Merrifield, CEO, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits
Office: 602-279-9150, Cell: 602-686-4297; kristenm(at)arizonanonprofits(dot)org

Kristen brings more than 15 years of association, nonprofit and fundraising expertise to her role as CEO of the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits. She was a donor on Arizona Gives Day before stepping into the leadership role in 2015. Arizona Gives Day has expanded under her leadership, with 2016 giving totals increasing by 28 percent over the previous year. Kristen serves in various volunteer roles with the Arizona Society of Association Executives, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and National Council of Nonprofits.

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Laurie Liles, President & CEO, Arizona Grantmakers Forum
Office: 602-845-1361, Cell: 602-312-3059; lliles(at)azgrantmakers(dot)org

Laurie became president and CEO of the Arizona Grantmakers Forum in 2015. She grew up in Arizona and has worked throughout her career to make our state a better place to live and work. With more than two decades of advocacy and association leadership experience, Laurie is passionate about connecting people who want to make a difference in others' lives. She honed her advocacy chops at the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, where she served as president and CEO and as senior vice president of public affairs, among other roles. In 2014, she was a Washington, D.C. correspondent for Cronkite News, covering politics, immigration and Indian affairs for Arizona news media outlets.

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Bryce Lloyd, President - Phoenix Metro, FirstBank of Arizona (Arizona Gives Day's Presenting Sponsor & Incentive Prize Pool Funder)
Office: 602-381-7805; bryce.lloyd(at)efirstbank(dot)com
Joel Johnson, President - East Valley, FirstBank of Arizona (Arizona Gives Day's Presenting Sponsor & Incentive Prize Pool Funder)
Email: joel.johnson(at)efirstbank(dot)com
Josh Weiss, PR Rep for FirstBank of Arizona
Cell: 480-789-0743; josh(at)10to1pr(dot)com
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About the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits

The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits is a statewide trusted resource and advocate for the nonprofit community. The Alliance's mission is to unite, strengthen and advance Arizona's nonprofit sector and is comprised of more than 1,000 members - both nonprofits and those in the community who support them - across the state. Since 2004, the organization has been dedicated to furthering the common interests of Arizona's nonprofit community and envisions an Arizona where all nonprofits are valued, empowered and thriving, with support from grassroots efforts like Arizona Gives Day.
For more information, visit http://www.arizonanonprofits.org, or email azgives(at)arizonanonprofits(dot)org.
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About Arizona Grantmakers Forum

Arizona Grantmakers Forum is the statewide network that connects, educates and advocates for Arizona philanthropy. Its mission is to empower members to transform Arizona through leadership and meaningful philanthropy. Member organizations make financial grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the state and represent the interests of private foundations, trusts, endowed community foundations, corporations, government agencies and individuals with organized charitable gift programs.
For more information, visit http://www.azgrantmakers.org, or email support(at)azgrantmakers(dot)org.
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About FirstBank

FirstBank, the nation's third largest privately held bank, operates more than 115 locations in Arizona, Colorado and California, serving over 750,000 customers. The bank offers a variety of checking and savings accounts, mortgages, home equity loans and a full range of commercial loans and business accounts and services. Since 2000, the company has been recognized as a top corporate philanthropist, contributing more than $60 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations. FirstBank is also unique in that a majority of its stock is owned by management and employees. For more information, go to http://www.efirstbank.com.