The Alabama Association of Nonprofits and the Alabama Broadcasters Association are partnering to make Thursday, Feb. 2 a day to remember with an event called Alabama Gives Day.

The statewide event aims to harness the power of individual contributions and make history by connecting new and existing donors with hundreds of Alabama nonprofits in just 24 hours.

Alabama Gives Day is supported by the Razoo Foundation, the Alabama Press Association, Alabama Giving, Intermark Group and hundreds of nonprofits in the state.

The event will be backed by the marketing power of Alabama radio and television stations, newspapers and nonprofits with one primary goal in mind: to help charitable organizations continue to provide a broad spectrum of aid across the state.

“The Alabama Broadcasters Association is excited to participate in what will be a historic event for philanthropy in our state and possibly across the nation,” said Sharon Tinsley, president of the Alabama Broadcasters Association. “Alabama radio and TV stations will join together in an effort to raise record amounts in gifts for charities across the state in a 24-hour period.”

Proceeds from Alabama Gives Day will benefit nonprofits such as Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center of Chilton County and Hospice of Montgomery.

“We operate solely on donations, so that’s hopefully going to be a big day,” Care Net Director Deanna Crist said. “Maybe (we can) gain some new donor support.”

Hospice of Montgomery will use donations it receives to fund community counseling and bereavement services, support groups for cancer patients, heart failure patients and caregivers and uninsured care.

“Rarely do local TV, radio and newspaper groups have an opportunity to make such a large impact on behalf of dozens of nonprofits in their local communities in just one day,” said Russell A. Jackson, Gives Day Manager for Alabama. “Alabama Gives Day certainly makes for an interesting news story, but it’s more than that. This is a day to help fuel the nonprofits that make our state such a great place to live and to help jumpstart their 2012 efforts.”

The Gives Day movement began three years ago in Minnesota as a means to increase philanthropy and help grow the individual donor base of nonprofits.

This year, Minnesota’s Give to the Max day saw 47,538 donations totaling $13.4 million. Colorado Gives Day recently had 52,000 donations totaling $12 million. When presented with a new way to give online, community members have overwhelmingly shown their support through donations, and while the immediate benefit is huge, the ripple effects of giving have helped spur other philanthropic endeavors according to organizers in Minnesota and Colorado. Alabama Gives Day hopes to follow suit by breaking philanthropic records statewide.

“Connecting individual donors to nonprofits, while also promoting the safety and ease of online giving, is critical to helping our nonprofits be sustainable,” said John Stone, president and CEO for the Alabama Association of Nonprofits. “Never before has an event of this magnitude taken place in our state. This will be a defining moment for Alabama nonprofits participating in the event, and the impact will be felt far and wide.

“We’ve seen what Minnesota, Colorado and other Gives Days have done, and with Alabama’s strong tradition of giving we believe that history can be made on Feb. 2.”

Jackson said nonprofits have one more week to register for the event Feb. 2.

To participate, nonprofits must have a 501(c) (3) status from the IRS. Nonprofits can learn more and register to participate by visiting www.alabamagivesday.org.