Long Beach Gives returns for its largest year ever; early giving starts Sept. 14 Long Beach Post News [Video]

The citywide giving event Long Beach Gives returns for its fifth year on Sept. 21, but as early as Sept. 14, community members have the chance to start contributing to local organizations.

Initially created by Julie Meenan, executive director of the Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation as a graduate school project, and in collaboration with Michelle Byerly, executive director of The Nonprofit Partnership, the online fundraising effort is intended to promote individual giving and increase sustainability in the nonprofit sector.

The event also aims to make philanthropy accessible. With Long Beach Gives, all you need is $5 to make a difference.

Community members can explore 16 different causes, from children and youth, food security, arts and culture, and more, and can even filter results by council district as well, in order to contribute directly to their neighborhoods. Every participating nonprofit directly serves the Long Beach community.

To make the process even easier, the websitehas a shopping cart function, …