One month till March 31 deadline to file for PFD
ANCHORAGE, March 1, 2012 – One month remains to file for the 2012 Permanent Fund Dividend and new data suggest Alaskans are pledging gifts through the Pick. Click. Give. charitable contributions program in growing numbers. Top earners thus far include Bean’s Café, KSKA, Food Bank of Alaska, Alaska Dog & Puppy Rescue, AWAIC, Friends of Pets, Catholic Social Services, Planned Parenthood, and Covenant House.
These point-in-time data, provided this morning by the state Department of Revenue Permanent Fund Dividend Division, show 17,838 individuals making 28,590 pledges for a total of $1,625,675. That compares to a grand total of $1,570,900 that was donated in all of 2011.
“A third of all pledges so far are directed to causes that focus on hunger and people in emergency situations,” said Jordan Marshall, special projects manager for Rasmuson Foundation. “Alaskans are also supporting youth and education at rate approximately twice that as last year. The bottom line is that generous Alaskans are showing support for their neighbors in need.”
See March 1, 2012 Pick. Click. Give. point-in-time data here.
Preliminary analysis of today’s numbers also show strong support for arts and culture as well as for animal welfare causes.
“The number of gifts per person is also on the rise,” noted Marshall. “In the first three years of the campaign, about half of those Alaskans who made pledges also made a second gift. This year that average has increased slightly; this bodes well for some of the less well-known groups.”
Eddie Ezelle, executive director of the Food Pantry of Wasilla, has seen a 24 percent uptick in donations in 2012 through Pick. Click. Give. over last year.
“More people are struggling to meet basic needs, like paying the rent and providing food for their families,” said Ezelle. “Food Pantry of Wasilla set out to find new supporters through Pick. Click. Give. It helps us tell others about the growing number of local families in need. And it lets people know that when they support the Food Pantry, they’re making an important contribution to their community.”
This is the fourth year for Pick.Click.Give. The 2012 program goal is $2 million.
Alaskans can file for the Permanent Fund Dividend Division here: http://www.pfd.state.ak.us/