NWA Gives Tallies Up $682,628.18 in 12 hours for Local Nonprofits // Walton Family Foundation Publishes 2018 Annual Report // And Other Buzzworthy Headlines
Cover photo by @eek365 on Instagram
An Epic Day of Generosity
The prompt from the NWA Gives team was bold: “Could Northwest Arkansas become the most generous place on Earth?” 283 nonprofits and 12 hours later, Northwest Arkansas changemakers and givers across the region accepted the challenge, came together, and contributed over $680k to support local charitable causes.
The contributions have continued to roll in with the latest update moving the total up to $715,427.18! The 2019 total beat 2018 by nearly $500,000—thanks to the effort of the NWA Gives team who provided the platform, equipped the nonprofits with training and resources, and raised community awareness.
The New Beginnings Initiative by Serve NWA topped the leaderboard at $325,115. You can learn more about their project for people in need of shelter HERE.
An Epic Year of Generosity
24 hours after the epic day of giving, the Walton Family Foundation released its 2018 annual report. Did you know they awarded $595.9 million to grantees last year?! Of that number, $48.6 million went to grantees in Northwest Arkansas with a focus on improving quality of life by supporting vibrant downtowns, engaging youth and increasing access to the arts and the outdoors.
Check out some of the recent stories from the Home Region:
- Pushing Creative Boundaries Starts with A Needle and Thread
- For Youth, A Place of Their Own Opens a World of Possibilities
- Creativity and Collaboration Drive the Beat at House of Songs
Oh, and one more cool Walton Family note! The foundation recently became the 100th organization to participate in GlassPockets, an online initiative designed to encourage greater transparency in philanthropy. Thanks to WFF’s commitment to transparency, visitors can learn about the grants they’ve made going back 30 years! Check out the searchable database HERE.
Other Epic Headlines
ICYMI, here are a few other notable headlines that came across our feed this past week.
- For the entrepreneurs: Co-working giant, WeWork, announced plans for a 200,000-square-foot development in downtown Bentonville. The building will accommodate retail, community space, and a workplace for more than 3,200 WeWork members across several floors. WeWork currently has more than 400 physical locations in over 100 cities and 27 countries around the world.
- For the cyclists:Â Velonews, one of America’s leading bike racing media outlets, recently published an article entitled, “The Outer Line: The emergence of a new American cycling destination” which recaps how our region has positioned itself as one of the new hotbed destinations for U.S. cycling.
- For the artists: Crystal Bridges just announced its summer season schedule! From returning Chihuly artworks to new exhibitions to Forest Concerts—Crystal Bridges invites you to explore indoor and outdoor art, concerts, and more that will engage all your senses and inspire you to explore the natural world.
