Valley Give Day Set for May 3

SPRINGFIELD — Nearly 500 community organizations will participate in the Pioneer Valley’s 24-hour e-philanthropy event – Valley Gives on May 3. This will be the fourth year for the hugely successful Valley Gives Day, but the first time the event is being held in the Spring. Valley Gives is hosted by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

Valley Gives will take place from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Participating community organizations span the Pioneer Valley and are eligible if their work is focused on Franklin, Hampden or Hampshire Counties. Organizations include non-profits, schools and educational institutions, places of worship/religious organizations; and local community groups that can be fiscally sponsored by nonprofit organizations.

Since Valley Gives began in December 2012, $5.8 million has been raised from more than 24,000 donors in support of 559 nonprofits that are doing good work in every corner of the Pioneer Valley. With nearly 500 organizations signed on to participate this May, Valley Gives is expected to add substantially to those numbers again this year.

“Valley Gives has grown every year we have held it and we expect more big things in 2016,” said Community Foundation President, Katie Allan Zobel. “This day is all about generosity. It’s a day that connects the whole Valley in support of our amazing nonprofits. They do so much to make our region thrive, and we all benefit from their good work. It’s a chance to give back and invest in their important work. And of course, we have a lot of fun in the process.”