On April 2, nonprofit organizations across the state got an extra boost with the ArkansasGives campaign. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., donors contributed to local organizations, and each donation was increased by a percentage of a $250,000 match pool.
ArkansasGives is a project of the Arkansas Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes smart giving to improve communities. Since 1976, the foundation has awarded more than $120 million in grants and partnered with thousands of residents to improve their communities.
During ArkansasGives 2015, 7,552 donors gave $1,968,953 to nonprofits throughout the state. Several organizations in the Three Rivers Edition coverage area benefited from the day of giving.
White County Domestic Violence Prevention Inc., raised $19,421 during ArkansasGives, for the second-highest donation count in the northeast region.
White County Domestic Violence Prevention Inc. serves victims of domestic violence in White County. The organization owns and operates Hope Cottage, a shelter for battered women and their children.
“White County has always been tremendously supportive,” said Kaye Candlish, executive director of White County Domestic Violence Prevention Inc. “We’re thankful every day that we’re in White County because these folks take care of their neighbors, friends and co-workers. People here realize that we take care of our own.”
Candlish said the organization has been in White County for 14 years, and she said she still runs into people who do not know there is a local shelter for victims of domestic violence. Campaigns such as ArkansasGives not only raise funds for the organizations, but raise awareness about their causes.
The donations given to White County Domestic Violence Prevention Inc. will go toward the operation of Hope Cottage, Candlish said.
“It will enable us to do a little more than we can do right now,” she said. “There are so many needs. These women come with nothing. Some of them have handbags, but many don’t even have that. They’ve had to leave everything behind, and they’re literally starting over.”
Many of the women who end up at Hope Cottage have left medications behind or need medical treatment. The nonprofit does what it can to help these women, and the extra funds raised during ArkansasGives will be a part of that effort.
“This funding will help us do some of those extra things,” Candlish said.
Behind White County Domestic Violence Prevention Inc. in the northeast region’s donation numbers, Lyon College raised $12,381, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of White County raised $11,315, and Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches raised $7,236.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.