Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

As was the case last year, an opportunity to give back to non-profit organizations is just around the corner.

The 12th Annual GoodGiving Challenge, an online giving challenge for local non-profits hosted by Blue Grass Community Foundation and Smiley Pete Publishing, will take place from Nov. 29th – Dec. 2nd.

“It’s a great way to build our programs, to continue to build our community through non-profits,” said Bruce Manley, the campus director for the Winchester-Clark County Campus of Bluegrass Community & Technical College. “It’s a great way to build excitement and to give to a worthy cause.”

While the Blue Grass Community Foundation hosts the event, the Clark County Community Foundation steps in to take on a prominent role.

The Clark County Community Foundation will match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $7,500.

“There’s so many worthy non-profits out there,” Manley added. “The reason why it’s so successful is because of the support of the matching dollars that the Clark County Community Foundation puts in, so we’re very grateful for them.”

“The GoodGiving Challenge kicks off the season of giving. It comes after Black Friday [and] Cyber Monday”, said Lauren Parsons, the director of strategic initiatives and communication at the Blue Grass Community Foundation. “You can make a donation in honor of somebody or in memory of somebody during the GoodGiving Challenge, so it’s a nice way to give back but also give a thoughtful gift.”

Two hundred organizations take part in the GoodGiving Challenge.

Lexington Rescue Mission, Mental Health America of Kentucky, and Organic Association of Kentucky are among them.

From Clark County alone, 34 different non-profit organizations participate, an increase from last year’s total of 28.

As a result, Clark County is the most significant contributor of non-profit organizations outside of the Lexington and Fayette County area.

Examples include the Clark County Homeless Coalition, Hospice East, Clark County Community Services, STRIDE, Partners in Education, and many more.

Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Winchester, along with its Scott County, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, and Danville campuses, is also involved.

Last year, the GoodGiving Challenge raised just shy of $3 million, garnering $2,908,088 overall.

“I would love to see that go over $3 million”, Parsons said.

Since its inception in 2011, it has raised nearly $17 million.

This year, Bluegrass Community and Technical College admitted its first 30 students into the Registered Nurse Program, started offering full-time dual credit courses so that students can graduate with an Associate’s Degree before finishing high school, and added apprenticeships through workforce training.

It will have a goal of achieving $30,000 in donations.

The amount will go toward dual-credit scholarships and other programs, and donations can be accepted online at/www.bggives.org/bctcwinchester.

“I think it’s so important to invest in education, to invest in our students, and continue that,” Manley said. “We’re offering a new program this year called Bluegrass College Academy, which offers full-time dual credit [courses] for juniors and seniors.”

Bluegrass Community and Technical College also have several fundraising activities throughout the year to help such causes.

To some, it may seem unlikely to meet the goals mentioned above.

However, after many years, it’s clear why others believe them to be attainable.

“If I know anything, this community can move mountains,” Manley said.

To learn more about the GoodGiving Challenge and what organizations are involved, go to www.bggives.org.