24-hour fundraising marathon starts at midnight

(Lancaster) -- For the second year in a row, the Lancaster County Community Foundation is launching an effort to raise money and awareness about the region's non-profit groups.

The Extraordinary Give offers hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes and matching funds for organizations.

When the clock strikes midnight tonight, donations to more than 250 organizations can start.

They include everything from libraries and museums, to Meals on Wheels and Opera Lancaster.

"It's really an opportunity where a rising tide raises all boats. People coming together to celebrate around this cause of giving back and giving local is something that's incredibly powerful as a community building tool as much as its powerful as a actual giving back of dollars," says Tracy Cutler, with the Lancaster County Community Foundation.

She says the 24-hour event is about more than money.

"Some organizations have gotten specific and said 'We're going to use this to help fund scholarships.' 'We're going to use this to help fund food', specific things like that. But some organizations are leaving it open so that they can use it for the best and highest purpose in their organization right now."

The foundation is distributing a share of a quarter million dollars to non-profits, depending on how much they raise.

Bonuses are also available -- such as to the first ten groups that earn 50 donations.The Extraordinary Give offers hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes and matching funds for organizations.

As a note of disclosure, witf is one of the participating organizations.

Smart Talk will be broadcasting live from Lancaster's Central Market, starting at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.