ValleyIndy.org, a nonprofit online newspaper you’re reading right now, is once again firing up the webcams and coffee machines for the second annual “Valley Indy Great Give Webcast.”
Reporters Eugene Driscoll and Ethan Fry will be locked in their two-room office in Ansonia from 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 3 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 4.
The webcast’s purpose is to raise money and awareness of The Great Give, an online fundraiser that benefits hundreds of nonprofits in the area.
Editor’s note: Readers, help us spread the word by sharing this story on Facebook, Twitter, the office water cooler and shouting out the window to your neighbors.
Their strange trek into Internet nothingness will be streamed live for 36 hours on ValleyIndy.org.
“Last year I started crying about 26 hours in, probably from a combination of sleep deprivation and fluorescent lights,” said Driscoll, 42, of Derby. “Also, we forgot to schedule breaks for breakfast and lunch.”
During the 36-hour webcast, Driscoll and Fry will interview at least a dozen Valley nonprofit leaders about who they are, what they do — and how the public can help.
Viewers will be able to donate directly to participating nonprofits.
ValleyIndy.org will also have donation hyperlinks for every Valley nonprofit participating in The Great Give.
ValleyIndy.org, supported almost entirely by foundation grants and reader generosity, is one of the nonprofits accepting donations during The Great Give.
Last year the 7‑year-old site raised about $10,000, which included money from matching grants and Great Give “prizes.”
CLICK HERE TO DONATE to the Valley Indy during The Great Give.
Click here then scroll down to read the list of all the wonderful people who donated to the Valley Indy in previous Great Gives.
So far scheduled interviews during the webcast include the Valley United Way, TEAM Inc., Valley Shakespeare Festival, Spooner House, Treasured Time, the Parent Child Resource Center, BHCare and Master’s Community Meals. The list will grow.
The Valley Indy is also scheduling special programming, such as “Bash the Valley Indy.” A few government officials have been invited on the air to complain or react about a story The Valley Indy got wrong (allegedly)!
Chris Bowen, a longtime reader, will turn the tables and interview the Valley Indy. We’re envisioning “Piper’s Pit.”
Stephen Krauchick, the guy behind DoingItLocal.com will appear, as will two horror movie podcasters.
There will be a middle-of-the-night interview with WICC-AM radio host and news director Mike Bellamy!
The Great Give is presented by GiveGreater.org, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, The Valley Community Foundation and Give Local America.
For more information about ValleyIndy.org, visit Facebook.com/ValleyIndependentSentinel.
