HONESDALE, PA — By proclamation of the county commissioners, the 24-hour period between June 6 and June 7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., is officially NEPA Gives Day in Wayne County. 

The Wayne County Community Foundation, in partnership with the Scranton Area Community Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, Monroe County Community Foundation, Carbon County Community Foundation, Greater Pike Community Foundation, Posture Interactive and other community sponsors will host the fifth annual NEPA Gives event.

Promoted as the largest philanthropy event in Northeastern Pennsylvania, NEPA Gives is a 24-hour online giving extravaganza that’s all about giving back to the community. 

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in matching funds, incentives and prizes have been secured, provided by various community partners, businesses and sponsors that make donations to participating nonprofits during NEPA Gives stretch even further. 

“Because of support from our generous sponsors, it only costs a nonprofit organization a little bit over $2 to raise $100,” said Laura Ducceschi, president and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation. “Over 250 local nonprofits participate in NEPA Gives every year.” 

There will be in-person events to celebrate NEPA Gives across the region. A kickoff event, hosted by the Wayne County Community Foundation and the Greater Pike Community Foundation in partnership with the Settlers Cares Foundation/Settlers Hospitality, will be held on Thursday, June 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Grants Woods on the Settlers Inn property in Hawley. The event will be moved indoors in the case of inclement weather.This family-friendly event is free, open to the public, and includes live music, refreshments, kid-friendly activities and opportunities to interact with representatives from local nonprofits participating in NEPA Gives. 

Community members wishing to contribute during NEPA Gives can visit nepagives.org any time between 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 6 and 7 p.m. on Friday, June 7 to make a secure donation to any of the 250-plus participating nonprofit organizations. Participating organizations serving Wayne County include the Wayne Library Alliance, Wayne County Children’s Christmas Bureau, Lackawaxen River Trails, Friends of Honesdale Parks, Dyberry Creek Music Festival, Roots & Rhythms Festival, The Himalayan Institute, It Takes a Village, Settlers Cares Foundation, Wayne County Arts Alliance, RAISE Your Hearts, and many more. 

To learn more about #NEPAGives in Wayne or Pike counties, visit nepagives.org or contact Ana Eccles, communications and development coordinator at the Wayne County Community Foundation at 570/251-9993.

Contributed by the Wayne County Community Foundation.