AUSTIN, Texas — Once a year, Central Texans are encouraged to support more than 700 nonprofits during a 24-hour long fundraising event.
In its twelfth year, I Live Here I Give Here's Amplify Austin Day event raised more than $10 million with the help of more than 26,000 donors.
This year's event totaled $144,565 more than the previous year and included organizations in Travis, Hays, Burnet, Bastrop, Caldwell and Blanco counties. New this year, Williamson County also hosted its first-ever Amplify Wilco Day, which alone raised more than $1 million for more than 70 nonprofits.
Donations were provided in part by individuals, families and groups, who raised $1.2 million of the total $10 million.
Some small, medium, large and extra large nonprofits were also given a total of $28,000 in prize money to celebrate raising the highest amount of funds in the 24-hour time frame. Those organizations included the Central Texas Food Bank, Shadow Cats Austin Wildlife Rescue and the Missy Project.
Austin Pets Alive!, the Austin Creative Alliance, Thundering Paws and A Kitty's PURRsuit of Happiness also received prizes for unique donors.
Other prize categories included the most dollars raised by a first year nonprofit, the most dollars toward a match and hourly prizes worth $16,000 in total.
Each hour during the event, one organization was given $1,000 sponsored by the I Live Here I Give Here Amplify Fund. Winners this year included We Luv Video, which had the most donors in its first year, along with Jack Jack's Pack Street Dog Rescue, which raised more than $25,000 in its first year.
The history of Amplify Austin and 'I Live Here I Give Here'
What started in 2013 has since turned into a yearly giving day that has raised more more than $102 million for Central Texas nonprofits.
Amplify Austin Day is organized annually by I Live Here I Give Here, which has been supporting more than 1,000 nonprofits for the past 17 years.
As the event continues to grow, more and more Central Texans receive these fundraising benefits.