San Antonio – During an April 22 press conference, Mayor Julián Castro motivated a large crowd to give back to local nonprofits by donating to The Big Give S.A. as a way to help fund the causes that make our city a better community.
“Deep reservoirs of caring and compassion are displayed in San Antonio 365 days a year,” Castro said, according to the San Antonio Express-News. “This is our day to say thank you to the nonprofits for all they do and to help them do even more.”
The Big Give S.A. has set a goal of raising $1 million in the city’s first online, 24-hour giving event. The San Antonio Nonprofit Council, the San Antonio Area Foundation and Genevieve and Ward Orsinger Foundation, among others, are hosting The Big Give S.A. It kicks off at 12 a.m. May 6 and runs until midnight.

Mayor at The Big Give SA news conference

Mayor Julián Castro speaks at The Big Give S.A. press conference at City Hall.

During the City Hall press event organized by esd & associates, City Council members joined the mayor and members of the business and nonprofit community to announce that local sponsors have already raised $224,000 in matching funds and prizes. Also, 467 San Antonio nonprofits have registered for the inaugural event, which is well above first-year participation at other Big Give events across the nation.

The event is part of the first, nationwide online giving day, Give Local America, with more than 100 communities participating.

“We want to build grassroots giving,” said Scott McAninch, executive director of San Antonio Nonprofit Council. “People will be surprised at how much good a simple $10 donation can do. The Big Give S.A. can connect people and their favorite causes to open new avenues of giving.”Screen Shot 2014-04-23 at 11.44.08 AM

On May 6, donations can be made at www.TheBigGiveSA.org. Citizens can make a minimum donation of $10 to their favorite causes listed on the site. That money will help nonprofits win prizes and contests throughout the day. There is no maximum contribution.
“Competition in the spirit of charitable giving ensures that everyone wins,” added District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg. “The Big Give S.A. appeals to every San Antonian because we all have causes we care about.”

The nonprofit Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, says Nirenberg, is a great example of the spirit of The Big Give S.A. as it leverages the public and private sectors to support and improve quality of life in San Antonio.

As part of its health and wellness program, esd & associates conducts “Fitness Friday” workouts at Hardberger Park.

“We are supporting The Big Give S.A. because it really brings out the best in our community,” said Erik Simpson, esd’s creative director. “From parks enhancements to jobs training programs, nonprofits are really vital to our community.”

esd is sponsoring one hour (noon to 1 p.m.) of The Big Give S.A. Thanks to sponsorships from small businesses like esd, Wave Healthcare, and Schriver|Carmona|Carrera, local nonprofits will be able to compete for cash prizes, says McAninch. During each hour of The Big Give S.A., the nonprofit with the most individual donations (not the highest dollar amount) will win a bonus cash prize from a unique sponsor.
“Giving back to the community through nonprofits is what this is all about,” Chris Carmona of Schriver|Carmona|Carrera said at the press conference.