Leigh Rovegno, Audubon Community Nature Center; Linnea Carlson, Jamestown Public Market; Amanda Gesing, YWCA Jamestown and Noah Goodling, Fenton History Center, prior to learning the results of the “Share the Pie Challenge” during Give Big CHQ on June 10.

In just 24 hours, this year’s Give Big CHQ online fundraising event generated $411,630 for 119 nonprofit organizations in Chautauqua County.

“We are blown away by the response to this year’s giving day,” said Elizabeth Jones, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation community impact officer. “Our nonprofit organizations did an incredible job putting together their fundraising plans and our community really rallied around them.”

According to Jones, 2,608 individuals made 4,117 donations to support their favorite causes and organizations. Nearly 70% of those donations were $50 or less.

In addition to dollars raised by individuals, the Chautauqua Region and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundations sponsored The 716 Stretch, a pool of $45,000 that was awarded to 84 qualifying nonprofits. Organizations qualified by receiving at least 10 unique donations between 7:16 a.m. and 7:16 p.m.

“One of the special things about Give Big CHQ is that it really is a community-wide event,” Jones said. “This day is all about our nonprofit organizations and is a great opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate the important work they do every day.”

This year’s event also featured several fun challenges initiated by the nonprofits to boost their support throughout the day. One of which was the “Share the Pie Challenge” created by the Audubon Community Nature Center, Fenton History Center, Jamestown Public Market and YWCA Jamestown.

Each organization encouraged their donors to also give to the other three organizations to raise awareness of the others’ missions. To sweeten the deal, the executive director of the organization with the most cross-donors would be pied in the face, live on social media.

The Audubon Community Nature Center received the most cross-donors.

“We believe in the generosity of our community and we believe that supporting each other will make us stronger,” said Leigh Rovegno, Audubon Community Nature Center executive director.

Give Big CHQ is a 24-hour online fundraising event hosted by the Chautauqua Region and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundations to raise dollars and awareness for nonprofit organizations in Chautauqua County. This year’s event took place on June 10.

For more information, visit www.givebigchq.org and follow #GiveBigCHQ on social media.