Great Fish hits final stretch of giving campaign

The Great Fish Community Challenge has officially raised more than $1 million in donations in the first five weeks of the challenge.

The Whitefish Community Foundation organizes the challenge each year and supplies the percentage match on the first $20,000 raised by each participating nonprofit. With less than two weeks left to give, many of the 53 participating nonprofits have not reached the maximum amount that will be matched. Last year, 50 charities participated in the challenge and raised just over $1.9 million before the match was applied.

“This is the fifth annual challenge and each year, we have exceeded the previous year’s totals,” said Foundation President Linda Engh-Grady. “Our goal is to see the campaign go well over $2 million before the match is added. To do this, we need to see the number of donors increase well above 1,500.”

Nonprofits in the campaign are raising funds to benefit specific projects and programs.

The campaign is designed to make it easy for donors to make one gift and benefit multiple charities. The challenge is free to participating nonprofits because Whitefish Community Foundation covers the organizational expenses. For each donation, 100% goes to the designated charity. Donations can be made by going online through the foundation’s website www.whitefishcommunityfoundation.org, sending a check in the mail with the official donation form, making a stock gift, or using an IRA distribution. The campaign will officially end at 5 p.m. on Sept. 13.

The Great Fish Color Run and Community Celebration is on Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Depot Park in Whitefish. The annual run is a fun, family-friendly event to thank the community for giving in the Great Fish Challenge. All 53 nonprofits will be there with interactive booths to raise awareness about the wonderful things they are doing in the Flathead Valley. A community barbecue lunch will be held and the Great Fish Poetry Slam is at noon.

For more information about donating, or to walk or run in the Color Run visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.