GALION — The Community Foundation for Crawford County has joined #GivingTuesday — a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. This year, the effort is Nov. 29.

“This year, we are playing with this event’s name a bit by calling it #Giving2sday,” said Lisa Workman, the foundation’s President. “We hope that with the “2” in the title, donors will remember that their gift will inspire a second one, as our board has set aside $25,000 to distribute to our participating funds on a pro-rated basis. So the more your fund raises, the larger piece of that $25,000 pie it will receive!”

Since so much of the success of #Giving2sday revolves around using social media, Crawford County residents are encouraged to go to https://tcf4cc.networkforgood.com. From that site, you can easily create your own fundraising page and use the templates provided to email your contacts for donations, or post your request on Facebook.

Participants are encouraged to send their fundraising requests to old friends and classmates who are from here and would have a vested interest in helping Crawford County. Any donations made on that website between now and Nov. 29 will count towards the event, but checks must be dated Nov. 29 to count.

Justin McMullen, a foundation board member and chair of their Development Committee, said there is a special incentive to this year’s #Giving2sday.

“Thanks to a gift to the Foundation from Enterprise Holdings Foundation via Ohio Mutual Insurance Group, an additional $500 will be added to the top earning fund in one of each of three categories: agency funds, scholarship funds and the school funds.”

In addition to social media, collection sites for checks and cash will be set up all day at the foundation’s office, 254 E. Mansfield St., Bucyrus, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cranberry Hills Grill & Pub in New Washington, Kroger’s in Bucyrus, Geyer’s in Galion and the library in Crestline.

In 2015, The Community Foundation for Crawford County contributed over $445,000 in gifts, grants and scholarships right here in Crawford County. That was also the fourth year of the #GivingTuesday movement, and it raised nearly $117 million online in the the United States.