HAMPTON ROADS – The Peninsula Community Foundation recently announced the 13th annual Give Local 757 regional giving day, taking place from midnight to midnight on May 5, 2026.
PCF says this year’s event marks a historic milestone for the region, with a record-breaking 262 local nonprofits participating—shattering all previous records.
With more organizations seeking support than ever, early momentum suggests 2026 could be a landmark year for Give Local 757. They say 30% of the participating organizations have already collectively received over 1,000 donations totaling $145,000, a staggering surge compared to the $800 raised at this same point last year. PCF says the continued support of TowneBank bolsters this year’s effort, the 2026 Presenting Sponsor, whose deep roots in the community help power the regional movement, and the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, which has supported this effort from its very beginning.
The Power of Proximity
The theme for this year’s campaign is inspired by a lesson shared by PCF CEO Adelia Thompson from her long tenure working with Paul Trible, former President of Christopher Newport University. Thompson recounts a story about Trible’s wife, Rosemary, who traveled across the world to meet Mother Teresa only to be told: “Go home and take care of what is right in front of you.”
“Mother Teresa’s wisdom is our roadmap for 2026,” said Adelia Thompson, CEO of the Peninsula Community Foundation. “In a time of economic uncertainty, we don’t need to look to the horizon for a hero. We need to look at our own neighborhoods. When you give local, you are supporting the ‘businesses of the heart’—the food banks, shelters, and youth programs—that operate right in front of our faces on both sides of the water.”
A Partnership Built on Service
The Peninsula Community Foundation is partnering with TowneBank to ensure the success of these 262 “businesses of the heart.” “It is just an honor to carry this water for all along with our partners at TowneBank,” said Tammy Flynn, Director of Give Local 757. “They consistently take care of their members across the region, including the hundreds of nonprofit partners they support. Together, we are ensuring that the infrastructure of our community—our nonprofit sector—has the capacity to thrive.”
Redefining the Impact of Giving
By supporting Give Local 757, donors are investing in three key pillars:
- Capacity: Providing the administrative “heavy lifting” so nonprofits can focus on their missions.
- Partnerships: Connecting donors directly to the causes that impact their local streets and schools.
- Financial Possibilities: Turning a gift as small as $5 into a $14 million cumulative legacy of impact for the 757.
“Last year, we raised $1.5 million, and we have consistently hit the million-dollar mark,” says Rob Shuford, Peninsula Chairman of TowneBank. “But our nonprofits deserve more. The early numbers we are seeing are historic; if everyone across the waters of Hampton Roads continues to come together like this, we are going to see a level of impact that completely redefines what is possible for our region.”
How to Participate
On May 5, residents and businesses from the Peninsula to the Southside are encouraged to visit GiveLocal757.org to browse the 262 participating organizations. The platform allows donors to search by cause, location, or keyword, making it easy to support what is “right in front of them.”
For more information, to register as a donor, or to view the live leaderboard on May 5, visit www.givelocal757.org.
