It's #GivingTuesday, and We're Celebrating!

It's that time of year — and not a moment too soon. #GivingTuesday! Did you know that last year, $116.4 million dollars were donated on this single national day of giving? Here's to this year's event being an even bigger success. Are you on board?

This year, Foundation Center and PND decided to approach #GivingTuesday a little bit differently. Because we know just how many amazing nonprofits there are out there, we wanted to highlight them in a special way — and came up with the idea of selecting five through a sweepstakes and turning over our Twitter feeds to those organizations for the day.

The response to the sweepstakes exceeded our expectations, and we're delighted to be able to share the work of the five winners with you throughout the day. To learn more about the great work these organizations are doing and how they're making a difference in their communities, take a look at their profiles below. And please consider making a donation so that they can continue their efforts in 2017 and beyond!

1. Community Health Alliance

Community Health Alliance in Reno, Nevada, provides quality, affordable, comprehensive health services to any member of the community, regardless of their ability to pay. For #GivingTuesday, the organization is raising funds to help one hundred children receive sealants on their molars to help keep them healthy.

"#GivingTuesday is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday giving season," said CHA executive director Emelie Melton Williams. "Northern Nevada has no shortage of need, but also no shortage of kind people who care about the health of our broader community. We hope you will consider giving from the heart."

2. Mattie C. Stewart Foundation

The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, a nonprofit located in Birmingham, Alabama, designs tools to let young people and their families experience firsthand the powerful benefits of education and the likely consequence that await high school dropouts.

"Many people may not realize it, but one of the greatest threats to homeland security is a lack of educational progress by our nation's youth. We've got to keep finding ways to engage our young people through education and inspire them to great careers,” said Dr. Shelley Stewart, the organization's founder and president. "The more they disengage or drop out, the more our communities are left with societal ills that can be too big to handle."

To support the organization and its programs, please consider making a donation here.

3. Building Futures With Women and Children

Building Futures in San Leandro, California, believes everyone deserves a safe place to call home. To that end, the organization works 24/7 to advance a powerful spectrum of services designed to help individuals and families in crisis regain safe and stable lives.

"No one can live a stable life without housing," said Building Futures executive director Liz Varela. "The thread running through our spectrum of services is ensuring that families and individuals have a safe place to call home. Every dollar you donate is an investment in a better future for individuals and families — and in stronger communities in Alameda County."

4. American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), Northwest Chapter

The Northwest Chapter of APDA provides support to more than 55,000 people with Parkinson's disease in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska and helps fund research and services for the more than one million Americans with Parkinson's.

"Parkinson’s disease affects ten million people worldwide, more than MS, ALS and Muscular Dystrophy combined, making it the second most common neurological disorder," said Jean Allenbach, the chapter's executive director. "With our aging population, these numbers are only going to grow, and APDA will work even harder to help people impacted by Parkinson's live a better life today while we also fight for a better life tomorrow. Optimism is the cornerstone of our organization, and to that end we continue the pursuit of our ultimate goal, to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease."

5. Alström Angels

Based in Lubbock, Texas, Alström Angels was formed in 2012 by Lynn and Cassie Johnston after their three-year-old daughter Bryce was diagnosed with Alström Syndrome, a rare and devastating disease. The organization is dedicated to raising funds for genetic and medical research on the syndrome, increasing awareness of the disease among the public and medical communities, improving family support for those affected by the syndrome, and providing a support base for other families battling rare and orphan diseases.

Please consider making a donation to the organization through the Lubbock Gives Big site.

Hats off to all of these nonprofits for the great work they do! Foundation Center and PND wish your nonprofit the best of luck on #GivingTuesday, and we hope you all consider making a donation to a cause you're passionate about!

(Disclaimer: Foundation Center is not affiliated in any way with any of the five winners of the Elevate Your Cause sweepstakes.)

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Thank you, and happy fundraising!