COUNTY LIFE
Texoma Gives registration deadline nears
Texoma Gives, the region’s premier online giving day event, is less than three months away. That means now is the time for nonprofit organizations in the area to sign up with a July 31 deadline.
Registration recently opened and, so far, 88 organizations have already registered.
Texoma Gives is set for Sept. 7 and is hosted each year by the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation. Since it began in 2016, generous individuals across the U.S. and beyond have donated more than $9 million to assist with the work of over 200 participating nonprofits in North Texas and Southwest Oklahoma. This includes many organizations in Montague County.
In last year’s Texoma Gives, 12 groups in Montague County participated and through 158 donations raised $15,480. There were a total of 196 nonprofits registered in 2022 with a record-breaking $2,019,530 donated overall.
According to Leslie Schaffner, president of the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation, Texoma Gives greatly reduces the expense associated with traditional fundraising events, while capitalizing on the broad reach of the internet and social media.
“We provide the platform, the training tools and the promotion. That gives participating organizations the opportunity to focus on connecting with new and existing donors who support their mission,” said Schaffner.
For organizations interested in signing up, visit texomagives.org. Participants must be classified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and located in the region covered by the Community Foundation, including 18 counties in North Texas and six in Southwest Oklahoma.
For questions, contact the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation at 940-766-0829. The deadline for nonprofits to register is July 31.
Musicians from around the area attended the New Year’s Eve jam for Jammin’ at the Justin. There was a variety of musicians and singers to entertain the big crowd, that also enjoyed lots of great good-luck foods served up by guests and the jam organizers. Along with the music groups played games and a few folks danced. (Photos by Barbara Green)
The new year opens with the first county-wide event this week, the 2025 Montague County Youth Fair, Jan. 8-11 at various locations.
It should be a strong show with 1,160 entries across all the categories and 333 students represented. Here is the basic schedule of activities.
Leadership Day
This year’s contests will be at the Montague County Cowboy Church.
Competition day starts with check-in between 7-8 a.m. for speaking events and the robotics contest. Categories will include junior and senior prepared speaking, plus junior and senior Montague County ag. advocacy speaking. Robotics contest also takes place that morning.
Contestants sign in for the skill-a-thons from 12:30 to 1 p.m., followed by the beef and horse skill-a-thons. Sign-in for the barbecue cooking contests is from 1-2:30 p.m. with the contest starting at 3 p.m. Judging follows at 4 p.m. Awards will be given to the top two individuals for each division of the contest.
Home economics
Home economics entries can be dropped off at the Nocona Community Center from 4 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 7 and 7-9 a.m. on Jan. 8.
Judging will be from 10 a.m. to noon with results posted by 6 p.m. Public viewing is 8 a.m. to noon on Jan. 9. Home economics is a massive competition covering food, fabric and artworks.
Read the full schedule in your weekend Bowie News.
Top photo:A Nocona student works on a welding project for the 2025 youth fair. (Courtesy photo)
Gus Clark and the Least of his Problems Band entertained at the Bowie Community Center New Year’s Dance this past week. Guests enjoyed black-eyed peas, cornbread, dancing and music to welcome the year.
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