During its annual Celebration of Philanthropy event, The Columbus Foundation announced the 2017 Philanthropy Award winners, celebrated its grant and gift accomplishments for 2016, and announced the comeback of The Big Give, the 26-hour online giving rally that left the scene two and a half years ago.
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) was named The Columbus Foundation Award recipient, “for helping central Ohioans in need for more than 100 years.” The organization has a wide range of services, providing shelter and food to people in need, offering resources to survivors of domestic violence and disasters, connecting individuals with healthcare and senior housing, and holding transitional job training for those in need.
LSS is one of the more than 3,300 nonprofits that were granted a collective all-time high of $205.8 million last year.
Also celebrated: the Foundation’s 2,440 funds and 28 Supporting Foundations received $314.7 million in 2016, making it the seventh consecutive year of gifts exceeding $100 million, and bringing The Foundation’s total assets to $2.01 billion.
“We are proud of the generosity of individuals, families, communities, and businesses that strive to move our region forward through strategic philanthropic investments,” said Douglas F. Kridler, President and CEO of the Foundation, in the release.
The Foundation announced the revival of The Big Give and its expansion, which will impact 1,000 nonprofits across 10 counties, including Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Hocking, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Perry, Pickaway, and Union. By using the Foundation’s Giving Store, charitable central Ohioans can make a donation to support one of these local organizations, or to support the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund of the Houston Community Foundation.
Any donation made within that 26-hour time period beginning on October 10 at 10 a.m. “will be amplified on a pro rata basis thanks to a $1.3 million+ Bonus Pool made possible by generous donors and corporate and community partners.”
“We champion events like The Big Give,” Kridler said, “to support the great work of our nonprofits over a 10-county region and to show what our community can collectively accomplish through kindness.”
For more information, visit columbusfoundation.org.