Thursday is Giving Hearts Day, a 24-hour fundraising event for charities across the state of North Dakota. Schools, businesses and citizens are beckoned to commit and give to a participating organization, for the pure joy of giving.

In Minot and surrounding area, the organizations participating are: Boy Scouts of America, Northern Lights Council, Camp Bentley at Drake, Camp of the Cross Ministries at Garrison, Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Dakota Hope Clinic, Minot and other chapters of Easter Seals Goodwill ND, Inc., Greater Minot Youth Concert Association, Habitat for Humanity Northern Lights, Minot Area Men’s Winter Refuge, Minot Youth for Christ, Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center, Northland Health Centers in Turtle Lake, Our Redeemer’s Christian School, Project BEE, The Salvation Army, Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue in Rolla and Youthworks.

Organizations such as Youthworks spend the day celebrating the organization by promoting their donor base and taking part in an office party/fun day with treats and activity planning, said Emily Yanish, development director at Youthworks.

“We campaign by spending the day getting emails sent out to thank our donors for their participation,” she said.

Yanish described Giving Hearts Day as their largest fundraiser of the year. It allows for flexible funding that matches grant dollars.

“Locally locally raised dollars can quickly turn from $1 to $10,” she said.

Youthworks opened its Minot office in 2020 and provides short term, transitional housing and shelter care to youth in crisis. Yanish said the transitional needs can be encountered through mental health-related issues or through an educational need. Currently, Youthworks provides a six-unit home to serve young adults experiencing homelessness.

According to the Department of Public Instruction, in the 2021-22 school year, there were 109 students in the Minot Public School district who were identified to be homeless. It is often the case that these are undercounts, given the hidden nature of homelessness and the likelihood that families or homeless youth may be couch surfing or bouncing from different temporary housing options.

Giving Hearts Day arose in 2008 as a fundraising concept of the Fargo-based Dakota Medical Foundation to seek donations around Valentine’s Day. The event has gone on to become one of the longest running and most successful giving days in the country, providing a platform for North Dakota and Minnesota charities to raise more than $138 million.

Using skills taught by the foundation and Fargo-based Impact, charities build a fundraising system they can put to use on Giving Hearts Day.

To view a list of the 570 causes or to donate, go to givingheartsday.org, or contact the charity directly for other ways to give, pledge or volunteer.