Carolinas groups raise thousands in national ‘Give OUT Day’

Originally published: May 9, 2013, 9:39 p.m.
Updated: May 14, 2013, 1:22 p.m.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Several LGBT community groups based in North Carolina and South Carolina were able to raise more than $25,000 in a single 24-hour national day of philanthropy last week.

The groups participated in the national “Give OUT Day” on May 9, which utilized “crowdfunding” to raise support for groups across the country.

Local groups that participated in the event include (links to fundraising pages included):

• Campus Pride, Charlotte, raised $4,635 from 142 individual donors.
• Equality North Carolina, Raleigh, raised $175 from 6 donors.
• Gay Christian Network, Raleigh, raised $760 from 21 donors.
• Harriet Hancock Center Foundation, Columbia, raised $3,552 from 73 donors.
• LGBT Center of Raleigh received $10 from one donor.
• PFLAG Greensboro raised $155 from 5 donors.
• Sean’s Last Wish, Greenville, S.C. raised $1,430 from 39 donors.
• South Carolina Equality, Columbia, raised $12,015 from 194 donors, and received $3,200 in bonus gifts from random drawings.
• We Are Family, Charleston, raised $1,400 from 34 donors.

Another local organization, the Foundation For The Carolinas, which operates the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund, also had a profile though they did not seem to actively participate. They did not raise any money during the event.

The national day of giving was supported by the Razoo Foundation, which said it “exists to promote and provide online charitable giving solutions that support a new era in philanthropy.”

South Carolina Equality raised the most money.

“The LGBT movement in South Carolina is stronger today because of our collective effort on this project and we have all committed to continuing to work together more closely in the year ahead,” South Carolina Equality Executive Director Ryan Wilson said in a statement.

— Matt Comer contributed