National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Joins ‘Cincinnati Gives’ Fundraising Competition
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jamie Glavic
(513) 333-7511
(513) 802-7355
jglavic@nurfc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CINCINNATI, OH (Nov. 29, 2016) — The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has joined Cincinnati Magazine’s Cincinnati Gives Challenge, an unprecedented, year-end fundraising campaign that equips local charities and facilitates connections between the interests of donors and the needs of local non-profits. More than a hundred Cincinnati charities are participating and competing for $30,000 in prize money. The month-long challenge is facilitated by CrowdRise, the largest crowdfunding platform for good.
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a museum of conscience, an education center, a convener of dialogue, and a beacon of light for inclusive freedom around the globe.
Its physical location in downtown Cincinnati is just a few steps from the banks of the Ohio River, the great natural barrier that separated the slave states of the South from the free states of the North. Since opening in 2004, the museum has filled a substantial void in our nation’s cultural heritage. Rooted in the stories of the Underground Railroad, the museum illuminates the true meaning of inclusive freedom by presenting permanent and special exhibits that inspire, public programming that provokes dialogue and action, and educational resources that equip modern abolitionists.
"We're thrilled with the opportunity to participate in the Cincinnati Gives Competition," says Dr. Clarence G. Newsome, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center President. "Each dollar donated helps us fulfill our mission by funding future exhibits, programming and educational experiences that champion inclusive freedom. We are a unique institution. Our mission demands us to look forward while discussing, studying, and coming to terms with history. Donations to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center help us preserve the stories of our collective past while creating a better future - for all of us."
The Cincinnati Gives Challenge launched on CrowdRise on Tuesday, November 29 at noon and runs through Tuesday, December 27. The charity team that raises the most money during the challenge wins a $15,000 “grand prize” donation; second place wins $6,000 and third place wins $3,000. Weekly bonus challenges offer charities like the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center the chance to win additional funds. 100% of the funds raised through the magazine’s challenge are funneled directly to the participating charities.
Cincinnati Magazine’s Cincinnati Gives Challenge is the first of its kind in the city. Presented by The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and inspired by the magazine’s upcoming 50th anniversary, it was designed to leverage the power of the crowd to make a powerful and meaningful impact in our community.
To help the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center win the Cincinnati Gives Challenge, visit crowdrise.com/cincinnatigives, select National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and give! Visit crowdrise.com/cincinnatigives for more detailed information about the challenge and a digital link to Cincinnati Magazine’s Annual Guide to Giving.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.