Today is the day to Give BIG: By Amy Wyant Last year, more - TopicsExpress

Today is the day to Give BIG: By Amy Wyant Last year, more than 53,000 individual donors logged on to GiveMN.org and gave more than $16.3 million to nearly 4,400 Minnesota nonprofits and schools in 24 hours during Give to the Max Day. This year, Golden Ticket donor drawings will be held every hour where a local organization has the chance to win a $1,000 prize grant. Super-sized Golden Tickets of $10,000 will be given to one nonprofit and one school at the end of Give to the Max Day. Our local event is called giveBIG Aitkin and is being held Nov. 14 at the Butler Building from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Together with Peoples National Bank and Bremer Bank, 17 Aitkin nonprofits are working to create a stronger community. Each organization will have a creative and informational booth. Each time a donation is made, the riverboat bell from the Historical Society will ring. Arrive early to receive a punch card and visit each booth for your chance to win fabulous door prizes each hour throughout the day. The community is also invited to enjoy entertainment on the giveBIG Aitkin stage with different acts beginning on the hour. At 9 a.m., the Community Connect program will broadcast live. At 11 a.m., Duane Barnhart, cartoon artist, will demonstrate and create an original piece of art. Enjoy classic country at noon with Vern Bishop and at 1 p.m., the Great River Strings will be performing. Closing out the entertainment at 2 p.m. will the Harbinger’s Quartet. Registration for the giveBIG Cribbage tournament opens Nov.1 at Bremer Bank. There is a $10 minimum entry fee and 100 percent of the proceeds will be equally donated to the giveBIG Aitkin organizations. This is a 32-player, single-elimination event. Registration closes Nov. 12 or whenever 32 players are registered. By giving online with GiveMN.org at the giveBIG Aitkin event, area residents have the opportunity to make a huge difference for our nonprofits. Donation stations will be available at each booth. Be a part of this historic event and join the Great Minnesota Give Together at the Butler Building. Participating organizations are: AADA, AERO, Aitkin County CARE, Aitkin County Fair Board, Aitkin County Growth, Aitkin Education Foundation, Aitkin Public Schools, Great River Strings, Habitat for Humanity, Jaques Art Center, LLCC, Rides for Health, Riverwood Auxiliary, Riverwood Healthcare Center and Foundation, Salvation Army and The Invisible Wounds Project. Amy Wyant is a nonprofit resource specialist for Bremer Bank with offices in Aitkin and Brainerd.