NASHVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – In the wake of deadly tornadoes, a worldwide pandemic and economic setbacks, Middle Tennesseans continue to show their generosity and willingness to help others, raising over $4.3 million for regional nonprofits through the seventh annual Big Payback, hosted by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Now in its seventh year, The Big Payback 24-hour giving event has raised more that $20 million in cumulative donations for participating organizations.

In Fifth Third Bank’s Big Reveal on Friday, May 8, this year’s preliminary total came to $4,347,441, with 31,694 total donations made. This number includes both the amounts raised and prize totals.

This years total tops 2019’s record of $4,106,182 from 28,458 donations.

988 Middle Tennessee Nonprofits from 34 counties participated in this year’s Big Payback. This includes groups specializing in human services, education, community improvement, arts and culture, youth development, animal welfare, health, housing and shelter and environment protection.

“The most striking thing was that each of the 988 local nonprofits received no less than $50 from the get-go,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation. “And for all who were able to participate in a chaotic year, we will be forever grateful of your willingness to make the economic fall less steep and less painful.

“On behalf of the participating nonprofits and those they serve, thank you for your kindness and support. Good things will happen as a result,” Lehman said.

The Big Payback is a community-wide, online giving event designed to give the public an opportunity to support the many nonprofits that make Tennessee great

“In 2014, the first year of The Big Payback, it was a leap of faith. Would our neighbors work together to improve and maintain our quality of life here?” Lehman recalled. “We started hosting this event in 2014 because we knew we didn’t have enough discretionary dollars to help many of the local nonprofits on whom our 40 counties relied. So we created a shared service, The Big Payback, to avoid duplication of expense and effort. Local nonprofits could share in the 24-hour event rather than each one spending money on their own event.

“But this Big Payback was a very different one … We know that this is a tough time to be doing this in the middle of tornado recovery, COVID-19 and the economic fragility we are experiencing,” Lehman continued.

For a complete list of nonprofit giving totals and additional prizewinners, visit thebigpayback.org