SANDPOINT — Organizers were hoping for $70,000.

After all Bonner County's license plate designation is 7B, the fledgling Live Give 7B fundraising campaign features 70 nonprofits and organizers Dig Chrismer, Kate Begalke and Katie Cox figured the amount was achievable given the community's generous spirit.

They ended up raising $192,000. By Monday, the trio expect the total to top $200,000.

The several hundred nonprofit organizers, volunteers and community members gathered Friday afternoon at Matchwood Brewing to celebrate the weeklong event erupted in cheers. A corresponding event was held in Priest River for west county nonprofits at Timber Town Beer Co.

"We keep coming back to while things are crazy everywhere, but when we talk to our neighbors, we can focus on what's important," said Chrismer, who also works as Innovia Foundation's rural engagement manager and Live Give 7B organizer. "Look at what's possible."

"There's so much good work that happens right here at home," added Cox, executive director of the Kaniksu Land Trust.

"It shows where the heart is in our community," Cox said of the fundraising campaign for the community's nonprofits. "(The funds) are to do this work and people recognize that this work is so important."

The trio applauded the community's nonprofits and everyone who donated to the campaign, allowing area nonprofits to do their work and the local businesses who are both the backbone of the community and who employ the nonprofits' many volunteers.

"We know what it took to have all of you participate and we hope that what you found this week was a lot of love from the people in our community for the organizations you represent and the work that you all do," Cox said. "We hope that this only continues to gain momentum and that this amazing week shines light on all of the work that our community does together."

The idea for the campaign was borne out of conversations at a recurring monthly meeting of local nonprofit leaders. Chrismer, Cox and Resource EnVision Center executive director Katie Begalke formed an organizing committee and secured an Equinox Foundation grant to fund the effort. The trio then established the plan to coordinate an awareness campaign, which Chrismer said can help small nonprofits that “could be one person or a handful of volunteers who don't really have the resources to do a big marketing campaign like this for donations.” 

The tremendous success of the inaugural Live Give 7B shows the power and community spirit of Bonner County. 

Also as part of Friday's events, the Innovia Leadership Council announced the presentation of several grants, including $20,000 to Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. from an endowed fund managed by the foundation, the Bonner and Boundary Forever Fund.

Due to generosity from numerous donors, including a match from the Equinox Foundation, Chrismer said the fund had $30,000 to donate into the communities, $10,000 to two Boundary County organizations and the grant to PSNI.

"The council made this decision because the pillar for us is quality of life and there is no doubt that the work that Trinity (Nicholson) and her team at Panhandle Special Needs add to the quality of life in our community," Chrismer said.

As a shocked Nicholson made her way to the stage, Chrismer told her that the organization is a huge asset to the community and the council was proud to offer the grant to PSNI, a local nonprofit whose varied services are aimed at helping those with developmental disabilities in Bonner and Boundary counties

Trinity Nicholson, PSNI executive director, was speechless after being called to the stage for the presentation of the $20,000 grant.

"I'm shocked and amazed," Nicholson said. "This community just embraces us and it really is touching."

Nicholson said the grant is a tremendous boost and gives her hope for PSNI's upcoming capital campaign to transform its campus into a state-of-the art facility across the street from its existing facility. The multiple-phase project, estimated to cost $7.3 million, would allow the organization to not only expand the number of clients it can serve, but the number of services it can provide.

Chrismer, Cox and Begalke said they deliberately did not seek out sponsors for the event, wanting the focus to be about community. However, when word spread about Live Give 7B, the Long Bridge Swim offered to buy the signs placed around the area and the Equinox Foundation presented the group with a grant allowing them to create the campaign and get the ball rolling. 

Also helping was the Idaho Nonprofit Center/ICF, which also sponsored the signs as this campaign was a precursor to their Idaho Gives campaign later this month 

Local businesses also deserved thanks for their support of the campaign, including Matchwood and Timber Town for hosting Friday's celebrations and Ziply Fiber for sponsoring a performance by Oak Street Connections.

"(This community) is just filled with so much love and we're so excited," Begalke told the crowd. "We're been raising funds for our Future Fund and this is just something that brings together all of our nonprofits."

The fund aims to strengthen local nonprofits, business and community connections in Bonner County. 

Information: livegive7b.org