Special donation event runs all day today

A total of 70 local nonprofit organizations will join today for Give Local Flathead, an annual one-day online crowd-funding event.

The 24-hour online giving event aims to connect community members with local nonprofits to reinforce the value of local philanthropic giving and community engagement.

In Kalispell, nonprofit organizations will be headquartered at the Gateway Community Center with interesting and lively displays, including Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center with a raptor display and the Civil Air Patrol’s flight simulator.

The Flathead Basin Commission Fund will have Orbie, its invasive species detective dog. The Humane Society, Paws to Play Dog Park and Kitty Moms will bring animals.

Entertainment is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. A salad and sandwich bar lunch will be available as well as a gluten-free spaghetti supper, with benefits going directly to the Give Local Flathead Fund.

The public is invited to stop by and join the fun at Gateway Community Center.

Donations today will go farther by helping nonprofits win prize donations that will be awarded every hour of the event.

Give Local Flathead is part of a statewide effort, MTGives Day. Last year, community foundations led efforts to raise more than $640,000 for nonprofits across the state. MTGives works with Give Local America, a national initiative. This year, the goal is to raise $1 million in Montana.

For more information, contact Lucy Smith at the Flathead Community Foundation at 756-9047 or email lucy@flatheadcommunityfoundation.org.

The Flathead Community Foundation and Northwest Montana United Way are primary sponsors of Give Local Flathead.

Online: www.givelocalflathead.org or https://donate.mtgives.org