Today is February 8 – Giving Hearts Day! Giving Hearts Day is a very special day throughout the country and for Devils Lake and the Lake Region the theme for 2024 is “Warm the hearts of your local non-profits!”
There are many reasons to celebrate the month of February. It is National Heart Month, National Wear Red for Women Day this year was Feb. 2 – focusing on women’s health, especially heart health. Feb. 3 was National Patient Recognition Day and National Play Outside Day. Feb. 4 is World Cancer Day and Homemade Soup Day. February 7 – 13 is African Heritage and Health Week; Chinese New Year (the year of the Dragon) begins on Feb. 10; Super Bowl Sunday on the 11th and Valentine’s Day on the 14th, which is also Ash Wednesday, this year, the beginning of Lent, for Christians.
There is Random Acts of Kindness Day on Feb. 17, President’s Day on the 19 and Let’s All Eat Right Day on the 25th.
Although February 8 is designated as the 24-hour online fundraising event to benefit charities throughout North Dakota and Minnesota, many start the process earlier, and for some it is a year-round effort with today’s end as the conclusion of that fundraising.
Local charities benefitting in 2024
Locally the non-profits benefitting this year from Giving Hearts Day include the Lake Region Public Library Foundation, St. Ann’s Indian Mission, the Devils Lake Public Schools Development Fund, Safe Alternatives for Abused Families (SAAF), the Women’s Care Center, St. Joseph Catholic School, St. Mary’s Academy, Father’s Farm, FAHOCHA Bible Camp, Heartview (Cando), Hospice of the Red River Valley and the Hope Center.
Throughout the larger region, however, over 500 charities will be benefitting from this fundraising effort.
How can you participate?
All you have to do is log on to the website www.givingheartsday.org anytime on February 8, 2024, and you will find places to donate, opportunities to give and to volunteer. Giving during this 24-hour period doubles your donation because the Impact Foundation and Dakota Medical Foundation will then match your gift.
Your donation goes directly to the charity of your choice.
For 2023 Giving Hearts Day raised $26,155,280 for charities. There were 41,907 individual donors and they gave 90,351 donations. Online donations raised $8,126,020. Check donations were $8,630,101. $8,789,925 match dollars were used by charities.
Over $164,000,000 has been raised since 2008. It has become the longest-running giving day in the nation.
Much of the information included here was obtained from the Giving Hearts Day website and promotional material.
