Countdown: Midlands Gives gears up for 24-hour blitz Tuesday

Ready, set – give.

More than 380 nonprofits will participate in Tuesday’s third annual Midlands Gives. This year, activities are planned throughout the day at the “headquarters,” Spirit Communications Park, to help drive the fundraising.

The event is a 24-hour online giving challenge to benefit nonprofit organizations around the Midlands. High-energy power hours, prize giveaways and milestone celebrations will punctuate the day at the park on Bull Street in downtown Columbia. Among scheduled activities:

▪ Nonprofit Marketplace featuring tables manned by 70 local nonprofits, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

▪ Regional Mayors’ Pitching Contest, 11:45 a.m. -12:30 p.m., featuring 12 Midlands mayors pitching for their favorite causes.

▪ Food and drink concessions during lunch, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; and food concessions with beer and wine during Happy Hour, 4-8 p.m.

▪ A live concert during happy hour by the nonprofit Heart ’n Soul band, 5-8 p.m.

▪ A meet-and-greet with the Columbia Fireflies mascot, Mason, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Online giving opens at midnight Tuesday and closes 24 hours later at http://www.MidlandsGives.org. The event is hosted by Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Roughly 250 charities in 11 counties participated last year, with $1.5 million raised – nearly double what the event raised in its inaugural year in 2014. The money is then distributed to nonprofits and communities in need throughout the Midlands.

Staff Reports

This story was originally published May 1, 2016 at 5:09 PM.