It's a common goal in the world of annual events to get bigger and better each year, and the case is no different with the 3rd Annual Giving Hearts Day donor match program put on by the Dakota Medical Foundation. The one-day event is Thursday, Feb. 11 and, once again, the RiverView Foundation is a participant. On that day, DMF will match online contributions of $10 or more, dollar for dollar, up to $4,000. Last year, 40 non-profit agencies participated in Giving Hearts Day.
In 2008, RiverView raised $17,000 on Giving Hearts Day. Last year, the total jumped to $54,000. This year, RiverView Foundation Director Kent Bruun said his board of directors has committed to raising $200,000 for the Radiology CT/MRI Project. The community will benefit from having the "highest level of healthcare diagnostic radiology services available here at home," he said.
So, clearly, the goal is to raise more money than ever on Feb. 11. But Giving Hearts Day this year isn't just about getting bigger, but getting better, too. Next week is also Random Acts of Kindness Week, and, under the platform “Random acts of kindness given from the heart,” Bruun is teaming up with the Crookston High School Leo Club to develop additional community “Helping Hand Teams” both in the school setting and throughout the community.
Feb. 11 also happens to be very close to Valentine’s Day, and Bruun is encouraging donors to make contributions in honor or memory of someone they care about. Through the Giving Hearts Day Website, donors will be able to send an e-card to their designated person to let them know that a donation has been made in their honor.
Everyone is encouraged to wear red on Giving Hearts Day, he added.
As the DMF has done in the past, the five organizations that receive the most online donations will be awarded additional grant funds up to $20,000, Bruun said.
It’s strictly a 24-hour event, from midnight Feb. 11 to 11:59 p.m., and it’s entirely online. Donations must be made at www.impactgiveback.org.
Learn more at www.riverviewhealth.org as well, by clicking on the Giving Hearts Day countdown icon. If you prefer other methods of communication, Bruun said he’d love to talk about Giving Hearts Day, so call him at 281-9249.
