Give Local Piedmont: ‘One for the record books’

RAWL was the first place winner for the Grand Prize “small” organization.

Even in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainty, local residents showed an extraordinary sense of community during the seventh annual Give Local Piedmont, which all said and done surpassed six previous years in donations.

The May 5 event orchestrated by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation raised a “staggering” $1,224,623 with 3,742 individual donors (8,089 donations among them).

That final figure represents more than a 30 percent increase in the overall total from last year with the same number — 177 — of nonprofit organizations participating.

“Wow!” reacted Jane Bowling-Wilson, executive director of the NPCF.

“Our nonprofits, the business community and the citizens in our four counties banded together to strengthen the northern piedmont region,” she said. “It was exhilarating to see this kind of support as so many lives have been impacted and changed since the COVID19 crisis.”

Pre-event donations totaled $137,900 and the average donation was notably higher this year at $135.61. The largest donation was a whopping $20,000 with several generous $10,000 gifts.

The Rappahannock Animal Welfare League (RAWL) was the first place winner for the Grand Prize “small” organization.

The Grand Prize for a “large” organization was the Fauquier Free clinic with the Fauquier SPCA coming in second. Eight nonprofits chosen at random were awarded $500 each through the Golden Ticket prize. Twelve organizations received $1000 in additional prizes. The complete list of prizes is at www.npcf.org

“Give Local Piedmont was a perfect way for our communities to rise above some of the day-to-day obstacles and support the causes we care deeply about,” said Bowling-Wilson. “Keeping our giving local and supporting our nonprofits speaks volumes about this northern piedmont region we call home. Thank you!”

Established in 2000, the NPCF is a public charity that strengthens the communities of Rappahannock, Culpeper, Fauquier and Madison through philanthropy, building assets to support the nonprofit organizations and young people with educational funding.