By Skip Thacker

Over 40 Grant County/Silver City non profit organizations will participate in the inaugural May 6, 24 hour giving period to non profit organizations through Give Grande New Mexico. Org. This is an opportunity for Grant County residents to give (for tax deductions) to the local organizations of their choice. By logging in at www.givegrandenm.org, and scrolling down the Leaderboard, local listed organizations can be found.

Several WiFi "hot spots" will be located around town on May 6, including the Visitors Center, Silver City Library, Javalinas, Life Quest and the Volunteer Center. Folks at each location will assist people in logging on to their organization of choice, or can accept cash/checks.

¡Give Grande! New Mexico is sponsored locally by The Grant County Community Foundation (a Geographic Affiliate of CFSNM)) and the Mayor of SC and the Grant County Commissioners have issued proclamations endorsing the statewide day of giving and encouraging all citizens of Grant County to give in Grant County on that day.

What is Give Grande all about?
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Community Foundations, The Community Foundation Coalition of New Mexico (Coalition), comprised of the Albuquerque, Taos, Southern New Mexico, New Mexico and Santa Fe Community Foundations, is supporting New Mexico to participate in a national day of community giving. The nationwide initiative, Give Local America, takes place May 6, 2014. Over 100 communities across the US, with the help of their own community foundations, will host local giving events to support local causes and organizations. Each local gift will be amplified with dollars from a national incentive pool of funds, plus New Mexico will also have its own, additional incentive prizes!

Nonprofit organizations in New Mexico will be able to participate in this historical, community-giving event. This 24-hour event, led by the Coalition, will raise as much money as possible for our local nonprofits via easy-to-use online fundraising. It will reignite the spirit of giving in our communities and provide opportunities for statewide nonprofits to get their creative juices flowing, while creating fun, engaging events for donors, old and new.

As an example, one participant will be Bridge Community, a 501c3 corp., founded to develop a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in SW NM, to include Independent living, Assisted Living, Skilled nursing, Memory care, Adult day care on one campus, with Hospice available at all levels. Seamless transition from one level to another will be offered to residents. No such facility is now available in the 4 county area, and is sorely needed. They have a 10 acre tract, and a completed Feasibility study. Our seniors want to stay here!