Great Fish takes to the radio to celebrate nonprofits

Whitefish Community Foundation and KGEZ Radio are broadcasting a live program on Friday, Sept. 10 to celebrate the achievements of the 61 local nonprofit organizations participating in the Great Fish Community Challenge.

Great Fish On Air with KGEZ runs from 7:20 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature interviews with representatives from the nonprofits and special community guests. Throughout the program, Whitefish Community Foundation will award more than $5,000 in grants to the nonprofits.

Donations of $50 or more made during the broadcast will be entered into drawings for a chance to win a $250 grant for the nonprofit designated by the donor.

Donations can be made online at whitefishcommunityfoundation.org/great-fish or in-person between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Hockaday Museum of Art in Kalispell or the Whitefish Community Foundation office.

“As more and more local nonprofits are canceling their fundraising events due to COVID concerns, the funds they raise in the Great Fish Community Challenge are going to be critically important for their programs and projects in the coming year,” Whitefish Community Foundation President Linda Engh-Grady said.

Listeners can tune into a livestream of the program at KGEZ.com or on the radio at FM 96.5 or AM 600. KGEZ’s free app is downloadable from KGEZ.com or any app store.

The Great Fish Community Challenge is a six-week charitable giving campaign that offers donors the opportunity to give to multiple organizations with one transaction. At the conclusion of the Challenge, Whitefish Community Foundation will award a percentage matching grant on the first $20,000 raised by each organization. Nonprofits must raise at least $5,000 in the Challenge to receive a percentage matching grant. Since 2013, the Challenge has raised over $13 million for more than 70 local nonprofit organizations.

This year’s Challenge began Aug. 5 and closes Sept. 17.

“If you haven’t yet supported the Great Fish Community Challenge, now is the time to get involved,” Engh-Grady said. “One hundred percent of your donation goes directly to the nonprofits you designate. Plus, by helping your designated nonprofits hit the $20,000 fundraising mark, your donation goes further with a percentage matching grant from Whitefish Community Foundation.”

For more information about the Great Fish Community Challenge and how to make a donation, visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org/great-fish or call Whitefish Community Foundation at (406) 863-1781.