More than $88,000 was raised during the Shore Gives More campaign for Giving Tuesday. Fifty-seven nonprofits participated in the one day online giving campaign, which was initiated by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.

“This year’s ‘Shore Gives More’ campaign exceeded all our hopes and expectations through the generous support of donors. We are very fortunate to have such a giving and caring community,” said Erica Joseph, CFES President.

The majority of the campaign donors were from Maryland and southern Delaware but donations also came from 17 other states. “It just goes to show you that you can leave the Eastern Shore, but the spirit of the shore never leaves your heart,” said Joseph.

This is the second year the Community Foundation hosted Giving Tuesday for local nonprofits. In 2015 the campaign collaborated with 24 nonprofits in Worcester County. The campaign’s initial success laid the foundation for growth this year.

“In 2015 many people in the area weren’t familiar with Giving Tuesday. We learned together how to collaborate and increase awareness,” Joseph noted. “Last week those lessons allowed us to significantly benefit nearly 60 nonprofits in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties,” Joseph added.

One hundred percent of all charitable gifts made by donors through the Shore Gives More website benefited the participating nonprofits. All processing fees for the online event were paid by the Hershey Family Fund at the Foundation.  The campaign received advertising sponsorships from 47 ABC and Delmarva Power helped provide incentive prizes to the participating nonprofits.

“We are so grateful for this generous outpouring of support for charities in our area. We are excited for what the 2017 campaign holds” Joseph noted.

To learn more about the “Shore Gives More” Giving Tuesday campaign for local nonprofits visit www.cfes.org.

Picture #1 – Wicomico Environmental Trust Administrative Assistant Deborah Finkbeiner, receives an “Early Bird” incentive check for the nonprofit agency from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Heather Mahler, Program Director (l) and Erica Joseph (r), CFES President.  The first nonprofit to receive an online donation in each of the three lower eastern shore counties of Maryland on Giving Tuesday was rewarded with $250 by the Foundation.

Picture #2 Seton Center supporters (standing left to right) Nicole Kurtz, food distribution specialist; Eileen Eager, case manager; Julie Parsons, program secretary; Jennifer Wheeler, behavioral health counselor, and Jennifer’s service dog, Sandy; receive an “Early Bird” incentive check for the nonprofit agency from Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Board Member (kneeling) Dr. Carolyn Johnston.  The first nonprofit to receive an online donation in each of the three lower eastern shore counties of Maryland on Giving Tuesday was rewarded with $250 by the Foundation.

Picture #3 Worcester County G.O.L.D. Volunteers (seated) Bonnie Machen (l) and Sandy Reifsnyder (r) receive an “Early Bird” incentive check for the nonprofit agency from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s (standing) Erica Joseph, president; (l) and Heather Mahler, program director (r).  The first nonprofit to receive an online donation in each of the three lower eastern shore counties of Maryland on Giving Tuesday was rewarded with $250 by the Foundation.