NEWS RELEASE

United Way of Hastings Participates in the Great Minnesota Give Together – November 16

(HASTINGS, MN) – The United Way of Hastings (UWH) is participating with nonprofit organizations throughout Minnesota on November 16 for the Great Minnesota Give Together.

“Nonprofits all over Minnesota will be asking individuals to give together on November 16,” said Tara Donohue Weiss, Executive Director. “The third annual Give to the Max Day is sponsored through GiveMN and raises awareness of causes and funds for Minnesota charities.”

The UWH participates in the 24-hour give-a-thon via online donations through GiveMN’s website. GiveMN’s web platform helps nonprofits of all sizes reach new donors, increase giving through fun and engaging campaigns, and significantly reduce overall fundraising costs.

“Last year, more than 40,000 donors logged on to GiveMN.org and gave to more than 3,000 Minnesota charities and nonprofits in 24 hours during Give to the Max Day,“ said Donohue Weiss. “Our goal is to raise awareness so that individuals will select UWH as their charity on Give to the Max Day. And if individuals already planned to make a donation to the UWH, November 16 is the day to do it!”

In addition, the United Way of Hastings has been selected to be interviewed during the livestream coverage
taking place at the Mall of America on Give to the Max Day. The United Way of Hastings works with area dental offices every February during Give Kids a Smile Day to provide free dental care for children. A 2006 Give Kids a Smile Day participant will be providing her inspirational story on how she obtained free dental care for the first time as a teenager during the Hastings Give Kids A Smile Day, has been a volunteer interpreter during Give Kids A Smile Days, and then went on to pursue the dental field and is now a dental hygienist.

Tune in at 12:50 pm on November 16 for the interview. Details on how to access the interview can be found on the UWH website at www.unitedwayofhastings.org.

GiveMN will be offering incentives to inspire donor participation on Give to the Max Day. Prize grants in the amounts of $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 will be awarded to the top three small nonprofit organizations – with budgets under $750,000 – which receive the most dollars on Give to the Max Day. In addition, an individual will be randomly chosen every hour to have $1000 given to the charity that received the donor’s original donation.

To participate in Give to the Max Day, go to: http://givemn.razoo.com/story/United-Way-Of-Hastings.

The UWH is an independent United Way that has worked for nearly 50 years serving Hastings and the surrounding rural communities within Independent School District #200. Its mission is to build partnerships to improve the lives of people in our community. Donations are accepted year-round. For more information about the UWH and the agencies it funds, visit www.unitedwayofhastings.org.

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