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Day of giving raises nearly $400,000

2 min read

Washington County’s first “day of giving” to benefit local charities raised nearly $400,000 in a 12-hour online campaign Tuesday.

The sum represents gifts from more than 1,000 donors in the fundraiser sponsored by Washington County Community Foundation, according to the organization’s website.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Betsie Trew, the foundation’s president and chief executive officer, when the event reached its fourth hour. “All the good that can happen with this money.”

The foundation offered the service free to the 117 charities who signed up, and it appeared nearly all of them would receive a gift from the effort, Trew said. It will match the donations on a prorated basis using $100,000 in pooled money.

The Washington Health System Foundation of Washington Hospital led the drive by collecting $28,000.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Chartiers Township placed second with its donations of $21,700, and the Washington City Mission came in third with $16,660.

Two charities, Little Lake Theatre Co. and Washington Area Humane Society, tied at 71 for attracting the highest number of individual contributors.

“WCCF Gives is the most significant project the community foundation has ever undertaken, and we are extremely pleased that the community has so enthusiastically embraced this opportunity to support the charities that serve this area,” Trew said.

In all, the foundation collected $393,385 through the event, when considering the $100,000 it received in matching donations.

“Today through WCCF Gives, Washington County residents from all walks of life, each with unique charitable interests, have been united through their commitment to make a difference in the community by supporting the good work that is being done by our local charities. For that reason alone, we should consider WCCF Gives to be a success,” said campaign chairman William M. Campbell.

“We are extremely excited about the results of our inaugural day of giving,” Trew added.

“We’ve laid the foundation and we’re going to build for next year,” she said.

The majority of the sponsors for Tuesday’s campaign have already vowed to support it again in 2014, she said.

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