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DAY RECAP: (Let the evening shift begin – the Big Giving Day kicks on until midnight!)
Central Victorians have thrown their support behind the region’s inaugural online community fundraiser.
Community Foundation for Central Victoria executive officer Ann Lansberry said about $26,000 has been raised “at the close of play” on Wednesday, the penultimate night of fundraising.
The figure had grown to $30,000 by about 4.30am on Thursday, and had exceeded $40,000 by 10am.
By lunchtime, the total amount was more than $50,000.
“it’s absolutely astonishing,” Ms Lansberry said.
She was surprised, but thrilled, by the early morning generosity and curious about how much people would give once the working day had ended.
The total amount raised surpassed $60,000 just before 5pm.
Prizes are a defining feature of the Big Giving Day.
Campaigns have received lucky prizes and power hour awards based on donations in defined time periods.
But the most hotly-contested accolades are the major prizes.
Causes with the most unique donors on the day were eligible for extra funding.
The It’s DingEE, not dingy cause has dominated the large not-for-profits category throughout the day, smashing its fundraising goal of $3000.
It had almost quadrupled that figure by close of business on Thursday, and 100 people had donated just on September 1.
On the move – Bendigo Cricket Club also exceeded its target of $2000.
It led the sporting groups category until late in the day, when the Golden Square Cricket Club net facility maintenance project started to take off.
The Old Church on the Hill led the small not-for-profits category for the majority of the day, with Zonta Emergency Toiletry Packs in second.
The final fundraising figure will be released on Friday morning, alongside a list of prize winners.
Ms Lansberry dubbed the event “Australia’s first community giving day.”
UPDATE 5PM: Can we raise $60,000, I thought as I refreshed the screen at 4.45pm?
We can do better. The fundraising total has surpassed $60,000.
Keep it up, central Victorians!
UPDATE 4pm: We attended a morning tea by the Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre earlier today. Here’s what inspired their Big Give campaign, Cheers for Volunteers.
A decline in funding inspired the Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre’s Big Give campaign.
“Cheers for Volunteers” sought to raise $5000 to help the centre “continue to change lives and build vibrant communities through volunteering.”
“Our funding is being reduced both from the Commonwealth Government and also our support from the City of Greater Bendigo,” BVRC chair Paul Kirkpatrick said.
“While we get amazing support, there are competing interests for community funds and an organisation like ours has to do more with less, as they say.
“That’s why we need support from the Big Give.”
Donations to the cause amounted to $475 at the time of writing.
Mr Kirkpatrick said the organisation started with Commonwealth Government funding, almost 14 years ago.
He said BVRC was grateful to its own volunteers, having less than two equivalent full-time staff.
“We know we do a great job for the community and we’ve got many community organisations that support us, but we do it on a shoestring,” Mr Kirkpatrick said.
He said the strength of the BVRC was its ability to match people keen to help with organisations in need of their particular skills.
“We know the people at the organisations and the sort of volunteers they are after,” he said.
The centre assisted 3600 people in 2015, according to its Big Give campaign page.
The volunteer time of those individuals equated to a total value of $5.92 million of donated time and energy.
BVRC has trained 235 leader of volunteers in the year to date.
Mr Kirkpatrick said the centre also worked with organisations predominately run with volunteers to be more self-sufficient.
“We give them resource manuals, talk to them about how they might incorporate and create a legal structure, and what their insurance requirements might be,” he said.
“You can’t just be a volunteer organisation and not have accountability and status… if you want funding from other sources, you’ve got to tick all the boxes.”
BVRC is located at the Bendigo Library.
UPDATE 3:15pm: Donations to the Big Give have exceeded $55,000.
No change to the leaders of each category, though some of the runners-up have fluctuated throughout the day.
The Big Give has captured the attention of adults and children alike.
Children with “rock shops” at the Camp Hill Primary School cubby corner are usually more concerned with their gumnut economy than any other.
But today they were keen to know whether the community would help their school buy a water tank to further creative play.
Camp Hill Primary School launched a Big Give campaign with the aim of raising $2000.
“We have a quote for $3000, so it will be hard to find within our budget,” the campaign page said.
Donations amounted to $420 at the time of writing.
The presence of the media drew some of the children’s attention to the ongoing fundraising.
Some mused on the where the tank would go.
It was business as usual for others, intent on trade or construction.
How does the cubby corner work?
“We have crates, sheets, rocks, wood and you get to build so many things like cubbies, double decker cubbies, and lots of other creations you want to do,” Camp Hill Primary School student Lachie Ross said.
UPDATE 1PM: Donations to central Victoria’s first Big Give have cracked the $50,000 mark.
Leading the way at 1pm were the Old Church on the Hill and its appeal for new loos, the It’s DingEE not dingy campaign, and On the move – Bendigo Cricket Club.
Several causes have won prizes already, with more to come.
Fundraising ends at midnight, and staff at Morley’s Emporium will assist anybody in need of help with the online donation system throughout the business day.
Meanwhile, at Mt Alexander, Big Give donations are propelling Mirawara up the Dog Rocks.
Do you have an interesting Big Give story to tell? Tweet our roving reporter.
EARLIER: Good morning central Victoria!
A fundraising frenzy is under way for Big Giving Day.
The event marks the end of the Big Give, a month-long online community fundraiser involving more than 70 central Victorian causes.
Campaigns with the most unique donors today stand to win a share in a $31,000 prize pool.
Some are rallying support with Big Giving Day events, so we’ll be popping by throughout the day.
Keep an eye on this page!
Need a Big Give recap?
Read up on our previous reports here:
- Fundraising frenzy to end the Big Give – August 31
- Out with the old loo, fundraising for new – August 30
- Dance class leaves students beaming – August 30
- Big Give for school holiday sport program – August 29
- Radius Big Give cause for job opportunities – August 26
- Big Giving Day one week away – August 25
- Zonta seeks a Big Give to fill toiletry packs – August 24
- Big Give for family violence prevention programs – August 23
- Golden Square CFA calls for a Big Give – August 22
- Big Give for increased access to fresh food – August 20
- Big Give for change for change rooms – August 18
- Big Give to encourage inclusive communities – August 17
- Hospitality program to give big to students – August 16
- Big Give buoyant with rising support – August 15
- Big Give crowdfunding to help a community service – August 12
- Donations show love for school in Dingee – August 11
- Big Give for Special Olympics Bendigo athletes – August 10
- Wheels in motion for Foundation 97’s cause – August 9
- Wash Against Waste in need of a Big Give – August 8
- Building a barn for farm animals’ futures – August 4
- Bendigo teen starting fund to pay it forward – August 2
- Support sought for Statewide Koori Football and Netball Carnival in Bendigo – August 2
- EDITORIAL: Time to give back to our community groups – August 2
- Central Victorians get ready to give big – August 1
- Giddy-up and give big for Bealiba Pony Club – August 1
- Big Give for families battling a rare illness – August 1
- Big Give prepares to go live – July 19
- Equity Prevents Violence launched in Bendigo – June 13
- Retail therapy to promote gender equity – May 30
- Grassroots groups gathering for Big Give – May 19
- Big Give for central Victoria – April 20