Alexandria Gazette Packet: Thanks a Million in Alexandria

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Alexandria Gazette Packet: Thanks a Million in Alexandria

By Jeanne Theismann, May 7, 2018

ACT president and CEO Heather Peeler, left, stops by Red Barn Mercantile during Spring2ACTion day April 25. With a few clicks of a mouse, thousands of donors logged on April 25 to participate in ACT for Alexandria’s eighth annual Spring2ACTion day, an online giving event dedicated to raising funds for local nonprofits.

Within the span of 24 hours, 9,381 donors raised $1,768,501 for 157 Alexandria nonprofits, an increase of $176,042 over 2017.

Since its inception in 2011, Spring2ACTion has raised more than $8 million for local nonprofits. This year saw more than 20 nonprofits participate for the first time in the online fundraising initiative.

Additionally, dozens of local businesses hosted events to support local nonprofits, including free donuts at Sugar Shack to 25 cents per meal donations from Holy Cow Burgers, Pork Barrel BBQ and Sweet Fire Donna’s to Alexandria Restaurant Partners donating 5 percent of all sales to Spring2ACTion.

Throughout the day, ACT’s Donor Advised Fund holders provided $300,000 in matching grants and gifts during the online initiative.

For the second year in a row, the Alexandria Soccer Association took top prize in the Most Donors category(713) and RunningBrooke repeated at the top of the leaderboard with the Most Dollars raised ($112,861). Other top prize winners included: Free Agent Fundraiser – Team NoVA for Urban Alliance; and Spring4ART Leaderboard – Alexandria Harmonizers.