A total of 964 Middle Tennessee nonprofits — including schools and religious institutions — from 35 counties will be participating in The Big Payback, an initiative of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, on Thursday, May 2.
The record total includes 118 organizations representing 23 counties that will be participating in The Big Payback for the first time. Categories include human services, education, community improvement, arts and culture, youth development, animal welfare, health, housing and shelter, and the environment.
The Big Payback is a community-wide online giving day designed to give the public the opportunity to pay back the nonprofits that make this a place we are proud to call home. Starting at midnight on May 2, there is 24 hours to make donations to a wide swath of participating local nonprofits at TheBigPayback.org.
In its first five events, The Big Payback has helped organizations raise more than $12.5 million in donations as well as foster an impressive 24,716 first-time gifts, making possible awareness of and solutions to pressing needs in our community.
Last year’s event raised a record of more than $3.1 million in donations, from 22,071 total gifts.
“This charitable event will help area and local nonprofits raise much-needed dollars and bring awareness to a number of pressing needs in our community,” said Steve Flatt, chairman of The Community Foundation of Rutherford County, as he encouraged countywide participation.
Participating nonprofits from Rutherford County include:
— Amelia’s Closet
— Archie’s Promise
— Jesse C Beesley Animal Humane Foundation
— Branches Recovery Centers (Branches Counseling Center)
— Carpe Artista, Inc.
— CASA Of Rutherford County, Inc.
— Center for the Arts Inc
— Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc
— CommuniServe
— Community Foundation for Rutherford County
— Discovery Center at Murfree Spring / Children’s Museum Corporation of Rutherford County
— Dominion Financial Management Inc.
— Doors of Hope
— E.P.I.C. (Exploring Purpose in Christ)
— Elders First Adult Day Services Association / Mindful Care
— Endure Athletics Foundation
— Feed America First of Tennessee
— Ferrell Hollow Farm Senior Horse Sanctuary
— Friends of the Linebaugh Public Library
— Habitat for Humanity of Rutherford County
— Journeys in Community Living
— Kymari House, Inc.
— Middle Tennessee Wildlife Rescue
— Murfreesboro Muslim Youth Inc.
— Murfreesboro Rescue Mission Inc
— Murfreesboro Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Association, Inc.
— Smyrna LaVergne Food Bank
— Oaklands Association, Inc.
— Pregnancy Support Center (Portico)
— Possibility Place
— Prevention Coalition for Success, Inc.
— Rutherford County Primary Care & Hope Clinic
— Read To Succeed
— Renewed Life Ministries Outreach, Inc.
— United Way of Rutherford County
— Sam Davis Memorial Association
— Smyrna Senior Citizens, Inc.
— Southeastern Young Adult Book Festival
— Special Kids
— Stepping Stones Safe Haven Inc.
— Tennessee Foster Care Association, Inc.
— Tennessee Association of Dance
— Tennessee CASA Association Inc
— Tennessee Family Solutions Inc.
— Tennessee Hemophilia & Bleeding Disorders
— The Barnabas Vision, Inc.
— Gentle Barn Foundation
— The Journey Home, Inc
— The Woman’s Club of Murfreesboro
— United Spinal Association of Tennessee
— Wee Care Day Care Center
“The Big Payback’s slogan is ‘Live Here. Give Here’ and provides an easy and fun way for our community to show our local pride and give back,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
“Nonprofits do life-changing work every day across Middle Tennessee, and it’s important we recognize the positive impact they have in our own backyards by supporting their efforts,” Lehman continued. “It’s hard to imagine where we’d be without them and their work.”
Gifts to nonprofits from the public will be boosted with additional financial prizes from sponsors of The Big Payback, and an online leaderboard will track donations in real time.
Donors will be able to search and select organizations based on location and focus area, Donors also can support multiple nonprofits and make gifts of any size with ease, from $10 and up.
Late-Afternoon Party Set for Smyrna’s The Train Depot
Nonprofits and the general public also can participate in The Big Payback in person. There will be a party-like event in which all participating nonprofits and the general public are invited at The Train Depot in downtown Smyrna, 98 Front St, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
“We want all of Rutherford County to come and celebrate the day of giving with us at The Depot in Smyrna. This should be a fun event for the entire family,” Flatt said.
About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
The Community Foundation exists to promote and facilitate giving in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee and beyond. It does this by accepting gifts of any size from anyone at any time and by empowering individuals, families, companies, nonprofits, and communities to respond to needs and opportunities that matter. The Community Foundation works with people who have great hearts, whether or not they have great wealth, to craft solutions that reflect their intentions and goals. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
