2015 GoodGiving Guide Challenge raises over $1.3M

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The President and CEO of Blue Grass Community Foundation, says that the 2015 GoodGiving Guide Challenge raised over $1.3 million for 115 nonprofits serving Central and Eastern Kentucky.

The Challenge, a collaboration of Blue Grass Community Foundation and Smiley Pete Publishing, is an online giving campaign designed to highlight local nonprofits and encourage charitable giving. Since its inception in 2010, the Challenge has raised over $5 million for Central and Eastern Kentucky charities. The 2015 Challenge ran from December 13 to December 31.

During the Challenge, 4,355 unique donors made a total of 6,979 gifts that ranged in size from $10 to $10,000. The average donation amount was $125.45. Although the Challenge benefits local causes, donations were received from 44 states and six countries, including Thailand, Belgium and France. Donors living in the 40502 zip code area in Lexington proved the most generous, with a giving total of $129,876. Winchester, Kentucky donors were the second most generous with a giving total of $108,045.

Local businesses that provided significant prizes to nonprofits participating in the Challenge included Joe Rosenberg’s Jewelers, Pie Five Pizza, Raising Cane’s, Kentucky Bank, Traditional Bank and the Good Foods Co-op.