An innovative idea for holiday season gift-giving prompted people to snap up more than $100,000 in charitable gift cards — which drew another $100,000 to the cause.
The cause is “Give It Forward.” That’s the title the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is using for a campaign to convince people to buy “giveGreater” cards in denominations ranging from $50 to $1,000 in November and December to give as gifts to friends or family. The recipients of those gifts would then choose an area charitable organization to which to donate that amount of money.
To jumpstart the campaign, the foundation set a 24-hour “challenge” this week. It offered $100 matches for all purchases of cards of $100 or more from 7 p.m. Monday through 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The idea worked: More than $100,000 in purchases of cards came in.
The challenge is over, but the campaign continues. For information on the campaign and ordering a giveGreater card, click here.