By North Platte Post
POST PODCAST with Eric Seacrest
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — North Platte Giving Day returns this Wednesday, May 7, offering residents an opportunity to support dozens of nonprofits across Lincoln County — with the added incentive of matching funds and cash prizes. Early giving is already underway at www.northplattegiving.org.
Organized by the Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation, the annual fundraising event is now in its tenth year and has raised several million dollars for local causes since its inception.
“We have organizations from Brady to Sutherland, all over Lincoln County that participate in North Platte Giving Day,” said Eric Seacrest, Executive Director of the Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation, which hosts the event.
Seacrest emphasized that Giving Day is one of the most effective ways for people to support causes they care about, especially with the additional incentives built into the event. “We have lots of cash prizes that are gonna be awarded to local nonprofits based on people giving,” he said. “Some are random selections and in some cases, prizes go to the organization that got the most gifts — not dollars, but number of donations.”
According to Seacrest, 55 different cash prizes, ranging from $200 to $1,000, are being awarded this year. While a few have already been distributed during early giving, the majority remain up for grabs on Giving Day itself.
Another major feature of the event is over $100,000 in pledged matching funds, which will be applied to qualifying donations made to participating organizations. “Matching funds are great! A one-to-one match — some nonprofits have quite a bit pledged, some don’t have any,” Seacrest explained.
The initiative aligns closely with the mission of the Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation, which Seacrest said is “to help people do what they wanna do.” He added, “Hopefully people love their community and want to help somebody fund different projects.”
Gifts made during North Platte Giving Day are tax-deductible through the Community Foundation, a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations can be made easily online or by dropping off checks at several locations around town, including Orr’s Cleaners, the Catholic School Endowment, Prairie Arts Center, U-Save Pharmacy, and the Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation office in downtown North Platte.
Whether large or small, every donation can make a meaningful impact, especially for the area’s smaller organizations. “Many of these organizations are so small and this is helpful,” Seacrest noted.
To learn more or make a donation, visit www.northplattegiving.org.