Alexandrians are being encouraged to open their pocketbooks and find a cause to support as Spring2ACTion’s main fundraising day arrives tomorrow (Wednesday).
The 16th annual Spring2ACTion aims to raise $2.5 million through at least 10,000 donors, according to organizing nonprofit ACT for Alexandria. Brandi Yee, chief program officer at ACT for Alexandria, told ALXnow that $640,000 had been raised through early giving as of Monday evening.
According to Yee, 196 nonprofits are participating in Spring2ACTion this year, including 26 first-time participants. She called it “one of the most successful giving days in the country for a city,” noting it has raised more than $26 million over 15 years.
Last year, it raised $3.1 million for more than 190 nonprofits through nearly 8,000 donors.
“We just really encourage folks to get on the site, find a cause or two that they care about, and it could be a great way for them to start a relationship with an organization,” Yee told ALXnow. “Maybe they’ll want to volunteer in the future. Maybe they want to continue to financially support or learn more about the work that they do. So Spring2ACTion oftentimes is a gateway for people to learn more about all the incredible organizations that are in Alexandria.”
Residents can donate directly to a nonprofit on Spring2ACTion’s website or attend events that businesses are hosting to direct a portion of proceeds to selected nonprofits.
Yee said factors such as the partial government shutdown, federal workforce reductions and rising unemployment and underemployment have put extra strain on Alexandria’s nonprofits. Looming changes to SNAP and Medicaid could add to those pressures.
“We’re seeing unemployment, people not working full time, so they might be underemployed, so they’re seeking financial assistance to help pay for rent,” Yee said. “We’re seeing more food insecure folks. We have summer coming up, and so [we’re] trying to figure out how are we going to help families who need health care or even food for kids during the summer when they’re not in school, especially if they’re part of the free and reduced lunch program.”
At a Spring2ACTion kickoff event last week, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley said nonprofits step in to provide support beyond what the city government can provide.
“We see wait lists for our out-of-school time activities. We see wait lists for our recreation, our therapeutic activities. We see wait lists in healthcare spaces,” Bagley said in remarks to nonprofit staff. “We know that what you are doing here addresses those needs in ways that we are not always able, that we recognize and that we measure, but you step in and fill that void.”
Bagley highlighted one Spring2ACTion nonprofit she has seen make a difference. She met with 12 students who have learned English as a second language through the Liberty’s Promise program at Hammond Middle School.
“All of them have fascinating immigrant stories, and all of them are representing the best of what Alexandria does,” Bagley said. “These are fascinating students from families who work hard, who are absolutely the American dream. And the way that I found Liberty’s Promise was through Spring2ACTion.”
At the end of Spring2ACTion, bonus prizes will be awarded to small, medium and large nonprofits in categories like most dollars raised and most unique donors. Nonprofits with the most funds raised and most donors during early giving will also earn prizes.
