PORT HADLOCK — United Good Neighbors will launch its 61st annual campaign today with a new element — an online giving catalog that features 55 area nonprofits.
The community-wide fundraising campaign named Give Jefferson supports local organizations that fulfill basic human needs and crisis prevention to the most vulnerable of Jefferson County, said Kaitlin Chester, marketing and communications lead for the campaign and an independent contractor for United Good Neighbors (UGN).
Every dollar given stays in Jefferson County, Chester said.
Donations can be designated for the UGN general fund — in which money will go to a variety of nonprofits — the Jefferson Community Foundation, or any of the nonprofits participating in the Giving Catalog.
This year UGN partnered with Jefferson Community Foundation to help manage the campaign.
This allowed all local nonprofits in Jefferson County to submit proposals for a program, project, or general operations for up to $25,000, Chester said. The website at www.givejefferson.org lists each organization, the amount it has requested and the donations it has received so far.
While people can direct their gifts online to any organizations they choose, all funding sent to UGN via the brochure and workplace campaigns will remain dedicated to basic service organizations and UGN operations as it has been for more than 60 years, Chester said.
In addition to the website, a brochure will be mailed early this month to each household in the county, telling how donors can mail in checks. Also Workplace Giving Campaigns are running in the offices of Jefferson County, the City of Port Townsend, all local school systems, Jefferson Healthcare hospital and many smaller local companies.
For more information about Give Jefferson, see www.givejefferson.org or contact Chester at kaitlin@kaitlinchester.com or 360-358-5304.
