November 16 is shaping up to be another extraordinary day.

COBYS will participate with nearly 500 other nonprofits on Friday, November 16, in the 2018 edition of the Lancaster County Community Foundation’s ExtraOrdinary Give–Lancaster County’s largest day of giving. In just six days of giving, the Extraordinary Give has raised more than $31 million for more than 500 organizations, including $8.6 million last year. During that same span COBYS has received $289,090, including more than $68,000 last year.

The logistics are the same as previous years. With credit card in hand, donors simply need to visit ExtraGive.org between 12:00 midnight and 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 16, choose COBYS from the list of organizations, and give a donation of $25 or more. Gifts must be by credit card through the ExtraGive.org website.

Every dollar donated will be stretched with at least $500,000 from the Community Foundation, Rodgers & Associates, The S. Dale High Family Foundation, and other community partners. The more COBYS donors give, the greater our portion of the stretch fund.

On top of the stretch, an additional $50,000 will be awarded in prizes. During certain time periods, individual donations will be randomly selected. If a COBYS donor is chosen, the foundation will add $750 to that donation.

COBYS again is seeking friends to give at the stroke of midnight to earn one of the $750 Early Bird prizes offered to the first 10 organizations to reach 75 unique donors. Planners have upped the ante this year, requiring 75 donations, instead of 50, so we are looking for additional people who will lose sleep for a good cause. (A unique gift is one person giving with one credit card. A couple can give two unique gifts if they use two different credit cards.)

New this year is an opportunity for you to invite your friends to support COBYS and other favorite organizations through a Peer-to-Peer fundraising option. Just visit the COBYS profile at ExtraGive.org and click the “Fundraise” button.

COBYS will co-host two giving stations during the day, where donors can stop in to give in person. Give to any organization at one of our giving stations and receive a COBYS tote bag and a sweet treat as our tokens of thanks.

From 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. Executive Director Mark Cunningham and incoming Director of Development Anne Stokes will be at Lampeter Cafe (1702 Lampeter Rd.). The treat is an apple cider donut, compliments of the Cafe.

From 11 am to 1:30 p.m. Mark, Anne, and outgoing Director of Development Don Fitzkee will co-host a giving station at Brethren Village. Stop in at the lobby at Chives American Grill (Fieldcrest C) to donate and receive a whoopie pie, courtesy of Zig’s Bakery & Cafe. Computers will be set up and staff from COBYS and Brethren Village will be available to assist. If you already gave, feel free to stop in at either location just to say hello and pick up your thank you gifts.

To learn more about the ExtraOrdinary Give, visit ExtraGive.org. or contact COBYS Director of Development Anne Stokes at anne@cobys.org.