SAN FRANCISCO, May 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Craig Newmark and CrowdRise have launched the third annual Veterans Charity Challenge to raise funds for nonprofit organizations benefiting veterans, military families, police and firefighters. Veterans Charity Challenge 3 is a follow-up campaign to two previous campaigns run between the Memorial Day and Independence Day holiday periods. Together, the two previous campaigns raised more than $790,000 for participating nonprofits.
Veterans Charity Challenge 3 runs from May 21 through July 2nd at 1:59:59 pm ET.
Using the CrowdRise online platform, fundraising teams participating in the Veterans Charity Challenge 3 will compete to raise the most money for their charity and win additional cash prizes for their causes. This year's grand prizes are $10,000 (1st place), $5,000 (2nd place), and $3,000 (3rd place). There are also bonus prizes available throughout the fundraising period.
Newmark is personally donating $25,000 in cash prizes to encourage Americans to fundraise on behalf of and donate to their favorite "American Hero" nonprofits.
"I think if someone's willing to serve and even risk his or her life for me, I should give back," said Newmark." And it's not only those who serve, it's also family members who give up a lot for all of us." Newmark's involvement is part of his personal craigconnects initiative to raise funds and awareness for worthy nonprofit organizations.
"We're so excited to be working with Craig and his squad on the third Veterans Charity Challenge," said CrowdRise cofounder and CEO Robert Wolfe. "The stories from our past campaigns have been awesome and overwhelming in the best way ever. The notion that we're able to help veterans, their families, police and fireman in a campaign that's meaningful and fun is just so great. Challenges like this are exactly what CrowdRising is all about."
For further information, to signup to participate, or to donate, visit the Veterans Charity Challenge 3.
About craigconnects
Launched in March 2011, craigconnects is Craig Newmark's personal, Web-based initiative to support philanthropy and public service. The initiative spotlights individuals, organizations, and agencies working for veterans and military families, open government, public diplomacy, back-to-basics journalism, consumer protection, and technology for the common good. craigconnects is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives.
About CrowdRise
CrowdRise is the world's largest and fastest growing online platform dedicated exclusively to charitable fundraising. CrowdRise is used by millions of individuals, tens of thousands of charities, hundreds of companies and many of the most famous artists and athletes in the world to creatively leverage their resources and networks to unlock the power of crowds and raise hundreds of millions of dollars to support positive social missions. CrowdRise's unique functionalities as a platform for individual activists engaging in peer-to-peer fundraising and its strategic innovations as a high level partner for companies, foundations and major events…alongside its widely publicized success at making giving back fun, cool and aspirational…has unlocked huge pools of previously untapped support for charitable efforts, delivered with revolutionary cost-efficiency.
Founded by actor Edward Norton, film producer Shauna Robertson and Robert and Jeffrey Wolfe, CrowdRise has conceived, implemented and powered campaigns that have raised over $250 million to date and is on track to raise $200 million in 2015 alone.
CrowdRise's major partners include the New York City Marathon, the Boston Marathon, Red Cross, UNICEF, Ironman, United Airlines, Huffington Post, Eventbrite, Square, the Skoll Foundation, the Clinton Foundation, CAA, UTA, as well as artists like John Legend, Sean Penn, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Ian Somerhalder, Sophia Bush, Paul Rudd, Olivia Wilde and many more.
The CrowdRise community was named a "Top 25 Best Global Philanthropist" by Barron's.
Media Contact:
Bruce Bonafede
craigconnects
760-831-5080
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