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Sharing from the Valley Independent Sentinel:
The Great Give is an annual online fundraiser created by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.
Last year’s Great Give raised $4.4 million. Almost 600 area nonprofit groups participated.
This year’s Great Give starts 8 a.m. today (May 6) and ends 8 p.m. May 7.
The Valley Indy will be live on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and ValleyIndy.org interviewing local nonprofit leaders and Valley newsmakers. About 60 Valley groups are participating in this year’s Great Give.
Click here for the list, with links to each Valley participant’s Great Give donation page.
Click Donate.ValleyIndy.org to support The Valley Indy. We’re trying to raise $10,000 in 36 hours.
The Valley Indy will be live from about 8 a.m. until about 12 a.m. on day one, and from about 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on day two.
Here is The Valley Indy 2026 Great Give schedule (and ‘prizes’ offered by the organizers):
Wednesday, May 6
8 a.m.
We go live!
Early Bird Prize
Any org that gets at least one donation between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. could win an extra $1,000.
Black Futures Fund Early Bird
Any org eligible for funding from the Black Futures Fund that gets at least one donation between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. could win an extra $1,000.
9 a.m.
Tom Simonetti, Valley Shakespeare Festival
10 a.m.
Kayleigh Mihalko, The Electronic Valley
Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven Prize for Disability Services
The org working in disability services with most unique donors between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. will win $1,8000.
11 a.m.
Vinny LaRocca, Master’s Table Community Meals
12 p.m.
Gino DiGiovanni, Sterling Opera House Commission
Lunch Hour Double Draw
Any org receiving at last one donation between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. could win an extra $500 or $1,000.
Black Futures Fund Lunch Hour
Any org eligible for funding from the Black Futures Fund receiving at last one donation between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. could win an extra $1,500 or $1,000.
1 p.m.
LUNCH
2 p.m.
David Pyrch and Danny Staffieri of the CT Hurricanes
3 p.m.
Kristina Walton of the Seymour Oxford Food Bank
‘Getting Ready Prize’
Any Valley-based organization with at least 25 donors between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. could get an extra $1,000.
4 p.m.
Derby High School valedictorian Carter Ruggiero and salutatorian Sara Poric
4:30 p.m.
Tanaya Henry of Traveler on a Mission (pre-recorded interview)
5 p.m.
Jen Shuart, Ansonia Library
Happy Hour Double Draw
Any org that gets at least one donation between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. could get an extra $500 or $1,000.
Black Futures Fund Happy Hour
Any org eligible for funding from the Black Futures Fund that gets at least one donation between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. could get an extra $1,500 or $1,000.
6 p.m.
DINNER
7 p.m.
Valley Indy Live News Trivia!
Six Valley news questions: first caller successfully answering a question wins a Valley Indy coffee mug!
Vote With Your Gift
The org that gets the most donations between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. could get an extra $1,000!
8 p.m.
Rick Dunne, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
Bank of America Power Hour for the Performing Arts Match
Bank of America is providing a $5,000 matching pool for donations to small performing arts orgs between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
9 p.m.
David Salinas, Hi! People
10 p.m.
Maria Blackwell, Derby Elks
11 p.m. until we pass out
Let’s watch YouTube!
Late night ‘prizes:’
Midnight Snack Prize: the organization which gets a donation closest to 12 a.m. gets $500. Complicated because it’s judged by the time the donation hits the GiveGab system.
Insomnia Draw: any org receiving at least one donation between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. could get an extra $1,000
Six-Seven Prize: Any org with at least one donation between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. could get an extra $1,000.
Thursday, May 7
9 a.m.
Remy Kocurek of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shoppe & Pantry
9:30 a.m.
Shannon Bullard and Jessica Nunez of Seymour Food 2 Kids
Early Bird
Any org getting at least one donation between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. could get an extra $1,000.
Black Futures Fund Early Bird
Any org eligible for funding from the Black Futures Fund getting at least one donation between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. could get an extra $1,000.
10 a.m.
Susan Agamy of Spooner House
Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven Prize for Youth Educational Enrichment
The org working in youth education with most unique donors between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. will win $1,8000.
11 a.m.
Sara Pereiras of Bunlandia
12 p.m.
LUNCH
Lunch Hour Double Draw
Any org receiving donations between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. could get an extra $500 or $1,000
Black Futures Fund Lunch Hour
Any org eligible for funding from the Black Futures Fund receiving at last one donation between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. could win an extra $1,500 or $1,000.
1 p.m.
Derby Mayor Joseph DiMartino and finance director Brian Hall
2 p.m.
Ansonia High School senior Weston Ahearn
3 p.m.
Valley Community Foundation
Vote With Your Gift
The org with the most donations between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. could receive an extra $1,000
4 p.m.
Seymour Police Chief John Bucherati
5 p.m.
State Rep. Kara Rochelle
Last Call Happy Hour
Any org that receives donations between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. could receive an extra $1,000 or $1,500.
Black Futures Fund Last Call Happy Hour
Any org eligible for funding from the Black Futures Fund that gets at least one donation between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. could get an extra $2,000 or $1,500.
6 p.m.
DINNER
7 p.m.
TBA
VCF Getting Ready Prize
Org receiving the most donations between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. could get an extra $1,000.
8 p.m.
Great Give ends!
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