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PARKERSBURG -- For many people, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is just another day.
But for many nonprofits, it's an opportunity for people to give back to their local communities and transform their world.
Local nonprofit Artsbridge participated in the national movement of Giving Tuesday by unveiling its brand new website, a surprise they've been working on for some time.
"It's been hard to keep it a secret," said Executive Director Lyndsay Dennis. "It's user-friendly, and people can learn about all of our programs as well as see our full calendar of events there. There's also a feature on how to give back to Artsbridge. We've got good feedback from it so far; there's been a lot of excitement from it."
Dennis said the Giving Tuesday concept makes a difference to many in the community and piggybacks off Artsbridge's Fall Fund Drive that started Sept. 1 and goes through the end of the year. The drive is an annual initiative to raise money for arts education programs and community arts services.
"The Fall Fund Drive helps us continue to provide our programs to the community for the entire year," Dennis said.
People can find out more about giving to Artsbridge by visiting the new website at artsbridgeonline.org or visiting their Facebook page.
The Marietta Community Foundation's daily commitment is to give back to the community, but it means even more during Giving Tuesday.
"People always come with charitable intent, but today is for people to join in the national movement to really help out their local community," said Marietta Community Foundation Communications and Marketing Director Courtney Wentz. "They can get engaged by making a gift to a particular cause of their choice or to our Community Impact Fund, one of the best ways to impact their community."
The Community Impact Fund is a dynamic, unrestricted fund dedicated to addressing the most pressing needs in Washington County.
Donors can direct their contributions to one of seven specific categories to reflect their own preferences and philanthropic goals: areas of greatest need/highest priority; arts and culture; community and economic development; education and youth development; health and human services; natural resources; and sports and recreation.
More information can be found online at mcfohio.org/donate.
Although the Zonta Club might not have a special donation for Giving Tuesday, they have many opportunities to give back to the local community.
The Zonta Club of the Mid-Ohio Valley is a local organization of community leaders and career professionals who empower women and girls.
Through a fundraiser called Delicates for Dignity, they collect new undergarments and feminine hygiene products as well as funds to distribute to schools and churches.
More information about the club and ways to contribute to their fundraisers can be found on the Zonta Club of Mid-Ohio Valley Facebook Page.
The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation not only marks Giving Tuesday but its own local celebration in the spring with the GiveLocalMOV program. The 2024 edition is slated for May 7, with more information available at givelocalmov.org.
"The foundation manages nearly 500 charitable funds for our region and we have helped local citizens support charitable needs for 60 years now," Program Officer for Scholarships and Grants Jennifer Randolph said. "We are happy to help individuals, families or businesses set up their own fund to support the needs they care about, or anyone can donate online to existing funds."
More information on those opportunities or ways to give throughout the year is available at pacfwv.com.
Gretchen Dowler can be reached at gdowler@newsandsentinel.com.