What is The Big Payback?

The Big Payback is a day of giving online to support non-profits in Middle Tennessee! Starting at midnight on Wednesday, May 3rd, donors have 24 hours to make gifts to 775 participating nonprofits, including schools and religious institutions, which are located in or provide services in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee.

Gifts from the public are boosted with funds from sponsors of The Big Payback. Nonprofits vie for financial incentives, bonus donations, and prizes totaling more than $240,000.

Why is it important?

Look around your community. Are there any specific issues or parts of your community that you care about? There's probably a non profit that supports whatever you're thinking of!

During the Big Payback nonprofits are eligible to win unrestricted (meaning they can choose what they spend the money on) cash prizes which can have a giant impact on their budgets and make it easier for them to fulfill their mission. There are prizes for most money donated, most unique donors, and prizes to be won during certain time slots.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

STEP 1: Check out your favorite non-profit's social media channels. Learn more about what they do and how they fulfill their mission. Do they have a theme or a hashtag they're using for today? Are they hosting any fun events?? (I am attending a morning run at 6:00 am at the Fleet Feet in Green Hills to benefit Girls on the Run of Middle Tennessee and then a Fun Run 5K/Happy Hour at 6:30 pm to benefit Friends of Warner Parks!)

STEP 2: DONATE! The minimum donation amount is $10, which might not seem like that much, but it adds up quickly!  Many non-profits are asking people to donate within specific time slots, if you get the most unique donors within a time slot, you can win big cash prizes!

STEP 3: SPREAD THE WORD! Post a photo on your social media channels, tell your friends who you are supporting and why you decided to donate. Be sure to tag whoever you donated to and use #bigpayback. Your participation will be greatly appreciated!!

I HAVE A LIST!!

I will be supporting Girls on the Run of Middle Tennessee which is dedicated to inpiring girls to be joyful, healthy, and active. The curriculum provides strategies that will help them navigate issues they face such as bullying, gossip, body image, and negative self-talk. (Many of the strategies are applicable no matter how old you are!) One of the most important parts of our practices is that the girls get an opportunity to practice using their strategies which will give them confidence to use them in real life. The curriculum uses running activities to help them process the lessons while they train for an end of the season 5K! I LOVE GOTR! This is my fifth year as a member of the Board of Directors, and my 12th season as Head Coach at Julia Green Elementary. You can donate during The Big Payback here --> GOTR of Middle Tennessee

I will be supporting Friends of Warner Parks, which is dedicated to the preservation, protection, and stewardship of Percy and Edwin Warner Parks. I spend SO MUCH time there and feel so grateful to have such a wonderful space so close to the city where I live. I became a LEGIT 'Friend' of Warner Parks this past Giving Tuesday, and am looking forward to getting more involved! You can donate during The Big Payback here --> Friends of Warner Parks   (Join me at 12th South Taproom at 5:30 for a Happy Hour with a Fun Run 5K that starts at 6:30 pm!)

I will be supporting Walk Bike Nashville, which works hard to promote public policy that supports their mission of making active transportation possible while educating Nashvillians on how to safely access city streets, bikeways, greenways, and sidewalks.  Recently, I have been actually 'running' errands, which has exposed me to busy commercial parts of town in addition to my usual running routes. I grew up in Minnesota where the whole state is connected by sidewalks and greenways, so the fact that Nashville is so unconnected in that way boggles my mind. You can donate during The Big Payback here --> Walk Bike Nashville

I will be supporting Nashville Public Library. I've been a member of the library for about two years now, and just recenlty had my first fine (which was only $0.10). I was actually pretty happy to pay my fines because I utilize the library SOOOOO MUCH. I have checked out 170 books in the past two years. In addition to audiobooks, cookbooks, paperbacks, and travel guides; the library provides computers and internet, yoga classes, educational seminars, and a quiet place to study or write. I LOVE THE LIBRARY! You can donate to The Nashville Public Library Foundation here --> NPLF

Find your favorite non-profit at www.thebigpayback.org!

Did you donate during The Big Payback? Who did you support? Does your community have a city-wide day of giving? Have you participated?

I would love to hear from you! Leave me a comment below! Make sure you're following me on Instagram @corrielanderson, share your pics with me there!