AUSTIN, Texas — Thousands of Central Texans and hundreds of nonprofits stepped up to the plate this year to raise money for the seventh annual Amplify Austin Day — making this year the most successful one yet.
This year, the day exceeded its fundraising goal of $11 million to raise more than $11.2 million. Last year, the day raised a total of $10.3 million.
Amplify Austin Day, which is put on by I Live Here I Give Here and this year ran from Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. to Mar. 1 at 6 p.m., aims to benefit the local community from parks and lakes, to animals and the arts.
The dollars donated serve as critical support for nonprofits in Austin.
"I couldn't be more excited about the opportunities ahead. We hope patrons can continue to give back year-round as we continue our goal of making Austin the most charitable city in the nation," Courtney Manuel, executive direction of I Live Here I Give Here, said.
Austin Pets Alive! received the highest individual number of donations this year. Other top nonprofit participants in terms of total funds raised included the Boys and Girls Club of Austin, the Central Texas Food Bank and the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM).
As a group, six local companies raised more than $600,000 to lead the charge on Amplify Austin Day. Those companies were Cirrus Logic, Drillinginfo, Charles Schwab & Co. Inc, SolarWinds, Bazaarvoice Inc. and Silicon Labs.
Amplify Austin Day was also supported by a generous donation of $1.3 million by the St. David's Foundation, which again this year matched funds for its nonprofit grant partners, as well as donations led by local corporate and community sponsors.
The funds raised through Amplify Austin Day will benefit over 740 local nonprofit organizations across Travis, Hays, Williamson, Burnet, Bastrop, Caldwell and Blanco counties.
Since its creation back in 2013, Amplify Austin Day has raised over $57 million for local organizations.
For a more detailed breakdown of this year's numbers, click here.
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