With donations still coming in, suffice it to say that Giving Tuesday 2016 was the most successful online fundraiser in the Center for Rural Affair’s history. One hundred eight donors across the country raised $17,141 in one week. Thank you! Newman’s Own Foundation will match $10,000 and our friends at Small Farm Conservancy will match the rest.
We hit our original goal of $10,000 the day before Giving Tuesday, and were thrilled to learn that Small Farm Conservancy would match the money raised for the remainder of the fundraiser.
The money you raised will be used to help fund projects like creating more local food systems for New Americans and Native Americans. This past year, with support from our donors, over 230 families gained the knowledge and resources needed to grow their own food. Eating fresher, healthier foods is one important step in combating illnesses like obesity and diabetes. In 2017, we can broaden our reach to even more families, thanks to your support during this fundraising drive.
This is critical work. Growing food for your family can drive connection to the land. Taking courses to learn how to preserve and prepare food introduces us to new people and experiences. Those shared experiences have the power to bond a community. Every single person who donated toward this fundraiser helped build stronger, more vibrant rural communities.
A special thank you our longtime supporters who agreed to make special gifts. Those gifts inspired more than 30 new donors to make the leap and support our work. Another special thank you to Newman’s Own Foundation, for the second year in a row, and Small Farm Conservancy for providing the matching dollars. Their belief in our mission was the catalyst for another successful week that will bring gains for rural America for years to come.
