Giving Hearts Day is Thursday: Nonprofits hope to benefit from 24-hour online fundraising event

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Several charitable efforts in the area hope to benefit from the sixth annual Giving Hearts Day donation event Thursday. The event will provide 177 nonprofit foundations with a chance to boost their bottom lines.

Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour online fundraising event hosted by The Dakota Medical Foundation and the Impact Foundation. Contributions of $10 to $4,000 to participating charities will be matched by the DMF.

Anne Carlsen Center, Jamestown, officials hope to raise about $54,000 this year. The center provides assistance for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Part of this year’s donations will fund the center’s canine program. Communications Manager Logan Little said this new initiative features a trained assistance chocolate Labrador retriever named Champ. Champ has a broad range of skills and training to interact with the center’s clients.

Another non-profit hoping for donations Thursday is Caring for Children, a program of the North Dakota Caring Foundation.

Caring for Children Manager Lisa Faul said the program provides eligible uninsured North Dakota children, from birth through age 19, with access to free primary and preventative health and dental care coverage. In 2012 1,294 children were enrolled in Caring for Children statewide, a 19.6 percent increase from 1,082 in 2011. In Stutsman County 35 children were helped by Caring for Children in 2012, up from 33 in 2011.

“Our need is growing each year,” Faul said.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota contributes all administrative costs as an in-kind donation, so all the donations made to Caring for Children go directly to providing health and dental care to the children in the program.

Other nonprofits connected to the Jamestown area that will have donations matched include:

* American Red Cross, Fargo.

* Boy Scouts of America, Northern Lights Council, Fargo.

* Cooperstown Medical Center Foundation, Cooperstown.

* Elks Camp Grassick, Dawson.

* Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford.

* Service Dogs for America, Jud.

* South Central Adult Services — Prescription Assistance Program, Fargo and Valley City.

* Special Olympics of North Dakota, Fargo.

Go to www.impactgive back.org on Thursday to make a donation to one of the non-profits listed on the website.

Sun reporter Chris Olson can be reached at 701-952-8454

or by email at colson@jamestownsun.com

Tags: community, benefit, health