Connect to a Cause campaign to give 65 nonprofits a boost

AMHERST TWP. — With the pandemic still hampering fundraising efforts, 65 local nonprofits are hoping donors step forward Thursday in the second annual Connect to a Cause crowdfunding campaign. Its goal is to raise $250,000 during a 12-hour drive. The event isn't exactly a telethon, though there will be live interviews throughout the day on the Community Foundation of Lorain County's Facebook page. Instead, residents are asked to browse a catalog of worthy causes between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. that day at peoplewhocare.org. There you can support a wide range of groups such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County, Blessing House, Cornerstone Pregnancy Services, the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, Friends of the Elyria Public Library, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Genesis House, Neighborhood Alliance and Partners with Paws. "A lot of them were not able to do their fundraisers last year, so they put everything into Connect with a Cause," said Community Foundation spokeswoman Brittany Lovett. While some big public events have returned so far in 2021, she said many nonprofits remain wary of fundraisers where the virus could spread, she said. The 12-hour virtual campaign is a safer alternative. The Nord Center, which is based in Lorain and provides crisis response services, is one of the many nonprofits asking for financial assistance. "We were proud to be able to continue to meet the needs of Lorain County residents during the pandemic via telehealth services where appropriate and in person where needed," said Chief of Institutional Advancement Betsey Kamm in an email. "Our staff stepped up to take on new roles as required so that we could continue to provide excellent client care, keep our group home residents fed, and our hotline answered 24/7." This year's Connect to a Cause boasts two new features: First, there will be "golden hours" from 10-11 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. Nonprofits will get a free entry for a $1,000 drawing for each unique donor who gives during those windows. Second, more than 20 "business champions" are partnering with the foundation's board of directors this year to provide a $42,000 prorated match for all participating nonprofits. Among those champions is The Mermaid's Tale, an Amherst boutique owned by Community Foundation Board member Judy Recknagel. It will host a fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 16-17, with 20 percent of sales going to organizations participating in Connect to a Cause. In addition to the main online campaign, checks postmarked by this Thursday can be sent to 9080 Leavitt Road, Elyria, OH 44035. Cash and check donations are also being accepted in person there at the Community Foundation office. A donation form found on the foundation's website must be included for gifts to count. The minimum gift amount is $5. Lovett said money is already rolling in, but isn't being counted yet. That will wait until Thursday, when a preliminary total will be announced at 8 p.m. The final results will be published in October. Last year, Connect to a Cause raised $147,000 in donations from 1,056 individuals, with a $40,000 match. The biggest dollar earners in 2020 were the Lorain County Community College Foundation at $25,502, Main Street Amherst with $13,773 and the Lorain County Metro Parks at $13,611. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.