We know you guys care about New York Cares; now here’s our way to show us how much we care about your work!

We’re offering prizes to the top fundraisers on two day days leading up to New York Cares Day, and today is the first Super Fundraising Day. Raise the most money before midnight, and you might win a Nintendo Wii!

Ask your family, friends, coworkers, friendly neighborhood bodega – anyone – to donate on Super Fundraising Days for your chance to win. The next one is October 21.

The clock is ticking; get fundraising now!

Are you a dog or cat person? Perhaps you love playing with kids? Does getting your hands dirty make you feel accomplished?

New York Cares is launching a new community on Crowdrise, an online fundraising platform created by actor and activist Edward Norton, that allows you to raise money and awareness for the programs you care about. Join our team and use Facebook, Twitter, and good old-fashion email to ask people you know for a few bucks to support your volunteer work.

Crowdrise offers awesome prizes to the top fundraisers and point earners. Go head to head with Will Farrell and Seth Rogen to compete for an iPad – new laptop anyone? Even better, your efforts will expand our volunteer opportunities, helping more New Yorkers in need.

What are you waiting for? Give it a try!

Your last chance to be a Super Fundraising Day winner is Thursday, April 22! Win a roundtrip Jetblue Airways ticket by raising the most money for Hands On New York Day before midnight.

Anyone who raises even $150 will win a prize from our suite of Cares Wear. See what you could win, and read our fundraising tips to get started asking friends, family, and coworkers to donate in honor of your volunteer service.

On three Thursdays leading up to Hands On New York Day, we’re giving away great prizes to the top fundraisers. On April 8, the volunteer who raises the most money in 24 hours will win a Flip MinoHD digital video camera, designed by New York artist Ridge Rooms.

So far volunteers have raised $30,000. Help us reach our goal of $120,000. Even if you can’t make the event, you can still compete for fundraising prizes by joining the Virtual Volunteers team.

Don’t miss your chance to win – ask your family, friends, and coworkers to donate in your name on these Super Fundraising Days. On April 15, you could win a $350 Theory gift card, and on April 22, you could win a round-trip JetBlue ticket.

With public services that are already strapped for resources facing even more budget cuts this year, the work that volunteers will do on Hands On New York Day is crucial to keeping our city’s public spaces clean and green.

This incredible day of service is also a critical fundraiser that enables New York Cares to put volunteers to work all year long at struggling city agencies, community centers, and public schools.

Take the $150 Challenge and help us reach our goal. If all Hands On New York Day volunteers raise $150 in honor of their service, New York Cares could provide $4.5 million in service to the community. Set your goal even higher and join the Team Green fundraising club.

There’s still time to register for Hands On New York Day, but even if you can’t attend the event, you can make a big impact by fundraising as a Virtual Volunteer or making a donation. Learn more about what we can accomplish with your donations.

Support New York Cares and check out Twipple, the kindest feed on Twitter.

Twipple creates ripples of good will with random acts of kindness. In celebration of its first birthday, Twipple has published a book of its best Twipple suggestions. A portion of the sales will support New York Cares.

Check out Twipple and enter the competition to win a free copy of the book for yourself or a loved one.

Last night’s annual Winter Benefit was a resounding success, thanks to hundreds of individuals and companies who made generous donations in support of New York Cares.  The event is our biggest annual fundraiser, and this year was no different – we raised over $1 million to support our work in the community!

Read the rest of this entry »

We’re participating in America’s Giving Challenge, a virtual contest that rewards nonprofits who get the greatest number of people to donate to their Facebook Cause. They’re giving away $1,000 to the nonprofit who gets the most donations in a 24-hour period or a $50,000 donation to the nonprofit who get the most donations overall by November 6.

We want to win the daily challenge (and $1,000 to create more life-changing volunteer projects) that starts this Wednesday. Past winners have only had a few hundred donors, so with 48,000 volunteers and countless supporters, we know you can help us beat that.

Visit our Cause and make a donation of any amount between 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, until Thursday at 3:00 p.m. Remember, this contest is not about the amount of money we raise, but the number of people who donate. Tell your friends and help us win!

Don’t miss Fierce and Sweet, the 1st Annual Brooklyn Bake Off to Benefit New York Cares.

When: Sunday, October 11, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: East River Bar (97 S. 6th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
What: 20 bakers will feed a crowd of hungry guests and an esteemed panel of celebrity judges at one raucous, delicious, unforgettable party.

The judges and YOU will select winners in five different categories, including “Most Surprising Ingredient” and “Sexiest Baker.” 100% of the $20 ticket proceeds will benefit New York Cares. Tickets are going fast – buy yours today!

New York Cares happy hours are back! Join us at Greenhouse, New York City’s first eco-friendly nightlife destination, for The Art of Caring on Wednesday, September 30, at 7:00 p.m.

Mingle with friends to the music of DJ Jeff DeMeo, enjoy complimentary drinks from Brooklyn Brewery, and enter to win amazing prizes like a two-night stay at the Bowery Hotel, a signed Eli Manning MVP Superbowl helmet, airline tickets from JetBlue Airways, and more!

All proceeds support New York Cares. Tickets start at $25 and will increase in price as the event gets closer. Buy tickets now at www.newyorkcares.org/happyhour.