Feb 4, 2014 2 min read

A Marcellus Shale natural gas exploration company has become the newest sponsor of a one-day fundraiser linked to a Web-based platform allowing donors to select the Washington County charities they want to offer financial support.

Range Resources of Southpointe will donate $10,000 to the campaign overseen by the Washington County Community Foundation, which processed $400,000 in donations to more than 100 organizations in the first Day of Giving last year.

“It is a powerful way to make an impact in our community,” said Andrea Cooper, a Range Resources community relations specialist.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to reach local groups that we have or have not supported in the past,” added Mark Windle, another community relations specialist at the company.

This year’s campaign begins at 8 a.m. Sept. 10. Each of the nonprofit organizations involved will be given an additional percentage of an expected $100,000 bonus pool.

“We are very excited to welcome Range Resources to an extraordinary group of local businesses that are helping many local charities through their commitment to this one-day online giving event,” said foundation Chairman William Campbell.

The company joins Washington Auto Mall, Alex Paris Contracting, Washington Financial and the Observer-Reporter in sponsoring the event.

Betsie Trew, the foundation’s president and chief executive officer, said the charities that tend to do the best to promote the event on social media and through email blasts.

“It depends on how effective they are with their sphere of influence,” Trew said.

She said some charities complained last year that their supporters are mostly older and some of them don’t even own computers. This year, Trew said, the foundation will accept one-day cash or check donations.

“The number one goal is to have more donors giving modest contributions than one person giving a large amount,” Trew said.