Residents donated approximately $37 million to more than 2,500 nonprofits Thursday during the 8th annual North Texas Giving Day event.

Nearly 100 Arlington nonprofits were among those who benefited from the annual fundraising event - receiving $1,042,608 from 4,386 donors. That exceeds last year's giving totals, where Arlington-based collected just over $925,000 from about 3,500 donors.

North Texas Giving Day is an annual 18-hour online giving event, coordinated by the Communities Foundation of Texas, that is designed to encourage residents to make a contribution to the nonprofit organization of their choice. All contributions made between 6 a.m. and midnight on Thursday were matched in part by the Communities Foundation.

The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation also worked to help donors' contributions go further. During its third annual Arlington Gives event, the charitable endowment awarded $30,000 in bonus grants to six local charities.

Since its creation in 2007, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation has awarded nearly $18 million to Arlington nonprofit organizations, City of Arlington departments and neighborhood groups for projects that help the public.

An estimated 2,800 people gathered downtown Thursday at the Levitt Pavilion to show their support for Arlington nonprofits and enjoy a free Luke Wade concert hosted by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation.

As part of Arlington Gives, more than 50 nonprofits set up informational booths along Abram Street in front of City Hall to let concert goers know more about their work in the community.

Arlington Charities offered trays of cookies to visitors who stopped by to learn about the nonprofit's latest fund-raising effort, which is to collect $30,000 to replace its walk-in commercial freezer. Because the freezer has been broken for three months, Arlington Charities hasn't been able to stock up on perishable foods for thousands of families in need, said Darlene Rees, Assistant Director.

"The holidays are coming. It's our busiest time of year," Rees said.

Park Row Christian Academy said donations it received will help keep tuition rates down for its families. The private school has collected more than $25,000 on Thursday afternoon, with hours to go before the fundraising event ended.

"We are one of the best kept secrets in Arlington," said Cindy Nelson, a school nurse whose daughter Charley attends 6th grade at the private school.

Volunteers with Queen Esther Outreach explained how donations to their nonprofit would allow them to continue providing household supplies, food, diapers and other necessities and services to low-income families.

"We are trying to go out and rebuild our community one person at a time. We want to let them know that no matter where they've been, they can pull themselves up," said Board Member Carolyn Daniels.

Randy Jordan with the Arlington Master Chorale, which is one of Arlington's oldest performing arts groups, said his organization brought in more than $14,000 from donors last year's North Texas Giving Day.

"This is the biggest donation day of the entire year," Jordan said. "This very day is important to us and all arts groups."

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Arlington-based Charities Collect More than $1 Million During North Texas Giving Day
By Susan Schrock
Posted on September 23, 2016, September 23, 2016

Award Recipients

Grace Prep Academy received the first $5,000 bonus grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation for the highest number of donations received between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.

St. Joseph Catholic School received the second $5,000 bonus grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation for the highest number of donations received between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Levitt Pavilion Arlington received the third $5,000 bonus grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation for the highest number of donations received between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Arlington Classics Academy received the fourth $5,000 bonus grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation for the highest number of donations received between 7 p.m. and midnight.

Grace Prep Academy was also the winner of the People's Choice Award, which is a $10,000 donation from the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation based on votes from Arlington Gives event attendees.

During the concert, Shelter 2 Rescue Coalition and Destiny Empowerment Enterprises were each randomly selected to receive a $5,000 bonus grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation. The organizations selected had to be in attendance during the Arlington Gives event.

Arlington Gives, Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, Downtown Arlington, Levitt Pavilion, North Texas Giving Day
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