Press Release: Alaskans Have Five More Days To Donate 2010 Donations Could Reach $1 Million

ANCHORAGE — Alaskans have just five days left to participate in the 2010 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) Charitable Contributions Program, or Pick. Click. Give. Organizers and supporters are making one last appeal for donations by May 31, as the number of donors this year nears 10,000 people and the amount of money raised approaches $1 million.

“Times are tough out there,” said Diane Kaplan, President of Rasmuson Foundation. “I hear every day that many more Alaskans are seeking housing, food support and assistance from our nonprofits. If just 500 more Alaskans logged on to donate, , the Pick. Click. Give. program will have 10,000 donors this year.”

Adding to the momentum, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell is scheduled to sign Senate Bill 171 into law on Thursday, May 27. “I hope everyone who filed online this year will join Sandy and me in using Pick. Click. Give. to share with others what has been so freely given to us,” said Parnell.

Sponsored by State Sen. Kevin Meyer and amended in the House by Rep. Bill Thomas, Senate Bill 171 contains language that ensures that the charitable contribution option is an ongoing feature of the online Permanent Fund Dividend application.

The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Division this year extended the opportunity to donate to one or more of 365 Alaska causes through May 31. Every Alaskan who filed online during the regular PFD application period may now go back to www.pfd.alaska.gov and add a Pick. Click. Give. donation.

This year, 9,500 Alaskans have pledged over $920,000 in donations thus far. That is nearly double from last year when Pick. Click. Give generated $545,000 in pledged donations from over 5,000 donors.

“It is stunning to see this growth in generosity,” said Kaplan. “Alaskans have generated close to $1 million this year. We’re almost there.”

For more information, visit www.PickClickGive.org.