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Sarasota News Leader February 22, 2013 Page 82 NONPROFIT COMMUNITY PREPARING FOR 36-HOUR GIVING CHALLENGE Starting at 7 a.m. on March 5 and running through 7 p.m. on March 6, local residents will donate through computers and smartphones to help raise funds for local nonprofits as part of the second annual 36-Hour Giving Challenge. Last year���s event resulted in a total of $2.4 million raised through 10,700 gifts to benefit the 109 participating nonprofits; this year���s event includes 285 organizations, according to a news release from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The participating nonprofits all have profiles in The Giving Partner, an online tool that enables informed philanthropy, the release points out. They also can earn their share of $645,000 in grant incentives and 1:1 matching support for new and increased gifts over the last Challenge, the release adds. The 36-Hour Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in partnership with The Patterson Foundation, with support from Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Manatee Community Foundation, Charlotte Community Foundation and the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation. The Herald-Tribune Media Group, ClearChannel Radio and SNN6 have joined in the effort to promote the power of giving during this event, the release notes. ���This community-wide giving event is an excellent opportunity for everyone to be a philanthropist, supporting the causes they are passionate about while providing needed support for local nonprofits,��� says Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, in the release. ���It also provides an opportunity for participating nonprofits to increase fundraising and communications capacity, resulting in new donors and more revenue to support their missions. During the Giving Challenge, everyone wins and has fun giving!��� ���We support the smart use of technology to help our region���s philanthropists make more informed decisions and, in turn, help strengthen the role of philanthropy in our community,��� says Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, in the release. ���We heartily believe everyone can be a philanthropist and are excited to support the 36Hour Giving Challenge with a $430,000 dollar-for-dollar match for new or increased gifts up to $1,000 per donor.��� Last year, all of the participating organizations received donations, and approximately 40 percent of all gifts were $25, ���driving home just how valuable individuals can be when looking at the collective impact of their generosity,��� the release points out.