Washington County Gives Kick Off Event Gets Creative During “Streaming Times” and Awards $5,200 to Participants

The Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc. has kicked off a week of anticipation leading up to Tuesday, May 11th’s annual Washington County Gives Day of Giving with an official “Kick Off Event”. Hosted by local radio and event personality Ryan Smetzer and the Community Foundation’s own Director of Marketing and Communications Tim Luipersbeck, this virtual event capitalized on this year’s “Through the Decades” theme and featured Smetzer and Luipersbeck dressed as dueling Elvis Presleys. With 115 participants logged in, representing most of the 87 participating nonprofits, the morning’s event was a hit driving excitement sky high, while awarding $5,200 in individual prizes.Heritage Academy, Smithsburg Youth Athletics, and Washington County Historical Trust each won $1,000 prizes sponsored by AC&T, the John R. Hershey & Anna L. Hershey Family Foundation, and Volvo Group.It’s a Blessing to Be a Blessing and Maryland Entertainment Group, each won $250 prizes sponsored by Mathias Trust.Authentic Community Theatre, Inc., Breast Cancer Awareness – Cumberland Valley, Brooke’s House, Horizon Goodwill Industries, Kitty Angels, Inc., and OnTrack Washington County, Inc., each won $250 prizes sponsored by God’s Grace Fund.American Red Cross of Greater Shenandoah Valley, Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation, Family Healthcare of Hagerstown, Ladders to Leaders, and Limestone Hill Animal Rescue, Inc., each won $100 random prizes.To view participating non-profit organizations competing for leaderboard positions and prize drawings, potential donors are encouraged to visit www.washingtoncountygives.org.In the past eight years, Washington County Gives has raised nearly $4 million for our community. It creates real change that goes directly to participating nonprofits through unrestricted fundraising, combined with fund-matching and random prizes drawn from overall sponsorships.