HELENA — It’s a major day of charitable giving across the state. “Greater Helena Gives” just kicked off its official annual campaign on Thursday.
In 2018, 480 donors helped more than 70 different organizations during the 24-hour fundraiser.
Some of the organizations benefiting from the charitable event include “Big Hearts Under the Big Sky” and “Exploration Works,” an open learning science center for kids of all ages.
During last year’s campaign, “Big Hearts Under the Big Sky” raised more than $10,000.
As for “Exploration Works,” which has been giving kids hands-on, experience-learning science since 2007, the organization offers summer scholarships for students of all ages.
This year, “Exploration Works” Executive Director Kelly Posewitz, told MTN that they hope to raise enough money for their summer camp program, explaining, “So, last year, we had a fund for our scholarship program and it was successful and we’re hoping to expand that this year, we are seeing an increase in a request for scholarships this summer, more than we’ve ever seen, and we’ve exhausted our scholarship funds already, so we are hoping to get some more, so we can offer more free camps and classes this summer.”
For the past five years, Helena Gives and the Helena Area Community Foundation (HACF) has held the 24-hour fundraiser to help support local nonprofits, like the Helena Food Share, Florence Crittenton, The Myrna Loy Center, Rocky Mountain Development Council and others.
“Greater Helena Gives” runs until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3.
If interested in donating to “Exploration Works,” or other organizations, please visit: https://www.greaterhelenagives.org/.
-Reported by Christine Sullivan/MTN News
