Bitterroot Gives and Missoula Gives – Generously

The 26-hour annual on-line donation event "Missoula Gives" topped their expectations with a $778,000 total for Missoula and Bitterroot organizations last week. The web event started at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 30 and wrapped up at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1 (though donations are still being accepted, even after the deadline). There were 3,329 donors in the daylong campaign, which supported 138 organizations. The Missoula Community Foundation also included a page dedicated to Bitterroot Valley organizations in Ravalli County.

Top fundraiser for "Missoula Gives" was the Missoula Food Bank with $61,000. The "Bitterroot Gives" top organization was the Bitterroot Water Forum with $12,440. Other valley organizations in the top 25 were Daly Mansion Preservation Trust with $11,000, Emma's House with $6,800, Bitter Root Land Trust with $3,300 and Daly Hospital Foundation with $2,200. The top five for the entire event were Missoula Food Bank, the Poverello Center, Missoula Butterfly Home, MCT/Missoula Childrens Theater and Youth Homes.