24-hour online giving event raises money, awareness of need for food, shelter in greater Milwaukee

Milwaukee – On March 13, members of the community will come together again to raise funds for 20 nonprofits participating in the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s third Match Day. The event is the only of its kind in Wisconsin and is designed to raise awareness for basic needs in the greater Milwaukee area.

Thanks to $750,000 in matching funds contributed by a pool of funders including the Brewers Community Foundation and The Ceres Foundation, each donation made online on March 13 will be proportionally matched based on the total amount raised. Last year, more than $2.8 million was raised overall through the event.

“We are excited to bring Match Day back for another day of giving in 2014,” said Ellen M. Gilligan, President and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “In the first two years, more than $4.6 million was raised for organizations in the greater Milwaukee area that serve our neighbors in need. Our participating nonprofits are vital to providing basic needs for so many in our community, and the funds that are raised on this day strengthen their capacity to serve those who need it most.”

Sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the event showcases 20 participating agencies in southeast Wisconsin helping meet individuals’ basic food and shelter needs, including:

  • Advocates of Ozaukee
  • Cathedral Center
  • Center for Veterans Issues
  • Community Advocates
  • Daystar
  • Family Promise of Washington County
  • Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
  • Food Pantry of Waukesha County
  • Friends of Abused Families
  • Guest House of Milwaukee
  • Hebron House of Hospitality
  • Hope Center
  • Hope House of Milwaukee
  • Hunger Task Force
  • Milwaukee Rescue Mission
  • Pathfinders Milwaukee
  • Salvation Army Wisconsin & Upper Michigan
  • Sojourner Family Peace Center
  • The Women’s Center
  • Walkers Point Youth and Family Center

“I’m happy to see Match Day back in Milwaukee for another day of historic giving,” said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. “These nonprofits are vital lifelines for so many of our neighbors here in Milwaukee County, and this is a great opportunity for us to come together as one to support basic needs.”

"Match Day has been a great success for Waukesha County and all participating nonprofits the past two years, and I look forward to seeing the surrounding counties come together again this year for a common purpose and another day of online giving in support of agencies that supply food and shelter to those in need," said Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas.

To create Match Day, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has partnered again with Razoo, the world’s fastest-growing crowdfunding site for causes.

For more information on Match Day, visit www.MatchDayMKE.org and follow the Greater Milwaukee Foundation on Facebook and Twitter.


About Greater Milwaukee Foundation

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is a family of nearly 1,200 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the charitable causes of their choice. Grants from these funds serve people throughout Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties and beyond. Started in 1915, the Foundation is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the world.

 

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