by Nancy Bedan

—by Nancy Bedan, CAS CoMoGives Committee

The Columbia community’s annual fund drive to benefit area non-profit organizations begins soon. This year, for the first time, the online giving campaign will open on “Giving Tuesday,” Nov. 27 and run through the month of December. The fund drive is coordinated by the Community Foundation of Central Missouri with support from several local businesses.

Columbia Audubon has participated in CoMoGives for the past three years and received donations totaling more $15,000. These funds have helped CAS maintain and expand the demonstration prairie and outdoor classroom in the 28-acre Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary; provide the Band with Nature field trip for Columbia second-graders; and make need-based scholarships for science and nature-education programs available to local students and teachers.

This year, we hope to raise an ambitious $8,000 during the CoMoGives drive to further expand our education and conservation programs. CAS members and supporters, YOU can help us reach our goal—

• Make a gift! Go to comogives.com and donate on Nov. 27 or Dec. 1-31. We appreciate every gift. Even the minimum donation of $10 helps.
• Make a pledge on comogives.com now to help Columbia Audubon with this fund drive. Pledge to send an e-mail message to 10 friends and family members, explaining why you support Columbia Audubon and encouraging them to do the same at comogives.com Or, pledge to take three friends on a walk at Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary and introduce them to this beautiful place.
• Sponsor a personal fundraiser to benefit Columbia Audubon. How about hosting a bird-feeder watch party, where guests pledge $1 for every bird identified? The possibilities are endless. If you have a great idea for a fundraiser to benefit CAS, go to comogives.com and click on “Peer to Peer” in the menu bar and follow the instructions.

Not comfortable with online giving?  If you want to support Columbia Audubon’s programs but prefer to write a check, that’s fine with us. Contribution checks are welcome anytime. Make checks payable to Columbia Audubon Society and mail them to:  Columbia Audubon Society, P.O. Box 1331, Columbia, MO  65205.

Columbia Audubon will be one of 122 deserving organizations participating in the 2018 CoMoGives drive, which is Columbia Audubon’s only fundraiser. We are a relatively small organization that has no paid staff and operates entirely with volunteer help. Still, we try to do “big things,” and some of our projects are expensive. We have accomplished so much, thanks to the support of our members and donors.

—by Nancy Bedan, CAS CoMoGives Committee