Spring2Action, Alexandria’s citywide day of giving, kicked off at the stroke of midnight April 25 as hundreds of donors began opening their laptops and wallets for the 24-hour online giving campaign to benefit local nonprofit organizations.

Started in 2011 by ACT for Alexandria, last year’s event raised more than $1.5 million, an increase of more than a quarter of a million dollars over the previous year.

“I am totally excited about this,” said ACT for Alexandria president and CEO Heather Peeler about her first Spring2Action day. “We have about 150 nonprofits signed up to participate and many local businesses are sponsoring prizes throughout the day. This really is an all-hands-on-deck community effort.”

Local businesses were offering prizes and hosting Happy Hours to help raise funds for community charities. Vintage Mirage donated 10 percent of its sales on April 25 to the Alexandria Police Youth Camp while Today’s Cargo made the same pledge to Rebuilding Together Alexandria.

The National Breast Center Foundation joined forces with a Space Of Her Own to host a Celebration of Women Open House at AR Workshop and Grant Thornton LLP matched all donations made to the veterans business incubator Capitol Post.

“Alexandria has an amazing, committed and generous donor base along with outstanding nonprofit organizations,” Peeler said. “If you really want to solve issues in a community those are all the ingredients you need to have in place.”

Peeler, who replaced longtime ACT president and CEO John Porter earlier this year, noted that funds raised per capita is higher than average in Alexandria.

“The idea of a giving day isn’t unique,” Peeler said. “But the way in which this community comes out to support nonprofits is unique. Our per capita for what we raise is higher than average, so I see so much opportunity and potential here.”

Through 2017, Spring2Action has raised more than $6.5 million for local charities. Totals for 2018 were not available at press time but can be found at www.Spring2ACTion.org.