Kentucky Nonprofits Team Up to Raise $2.9 Million in 24 Hours

Give Local Louisville, a 24-hour effort to aid 363 local charities, ended at midnight Friday, with donations totaling $2,971,457.21.

In all, 8,785 donations were made, with Hand in Hand Ministries leading the way with 224 gifts to the event. Louisville Ballet was the dollar leader with $130,700 contributed. Muhammad Ali Museum & Education Center Inc. was second-highest in money raised, while the Kentucky Humane Society was second in total gifts.

Earlier Thursday, during a rally at Fourth Street Live!, a hush fell over the crowd as local auto kingpin Patti Swope announced, “It’s an Oprah moment. Look underneath your table for a colored envelope.”

Audible gasps followed by cheers of celebration filled the event as hundreds of nonprofits discovered $1,000 donations courtesy of the Swope Auto Group.