The 2016 ArtsWave Community Campaign is picking up speed!

We have a big target to reach by April 28 -- $12,450,000 – but literally hundreds of volunteers are helping hit that number, and already 8,000 gifts have been counted. Three weeks in, $3 million is in the door. That’s a pretty good pace to keep up, and we need your help to do it.

Tens and hundreds and thousands add up to millions!

There are lots of ways to support ArtsWave this year. Your commitment at your place of work through e-pledge goes directly to the goal and gives you the choice of opting in for benefits like the ArtsPass and tickets to a Cincinnati Reds game.

But you can show your support in fun and easy ways outside the workplace, too. Here’s my Top 5 picks for how:

Attend an ArtsWave event!
The 30th Macy's Arts Sampler is this weekend, Feb. 27 and 28, and offers more than 100 FREE activities and performances to choose from at locations all over the Greater Cincinnati region.

Toast to the Arts!
Visit one of the literally dozens of bars and restaurants participating in our #Toast2Arts campaign by offering special wines by the glass or cocktails. With names like The Riverfront Stadium, Ride the Wave, and Purple People Bridge, you’ll want to try all 16 ArtsWave-exclusive cocktails and vote for your favorite at wcpo.com/artswave. Each toast you make supports ArtsWave with a percentage of sales.

Try Roots Ginger Beer!
Another part of #Toast2Arts, Roots Ginger Beer was specially brewed for ArtsWave by Listermann and Blank Slate brewing companies. It celebrates two important parts of Cincinnati's heritage -- and future: art and beer. It’s available in your favorite places and coming soon to Kroger shelves, and a percentage of sales will be donated to the ArtsWave Campaign.

Register for Tidal: Arts x Tech Challenge!
During the first Tidal: Arts x Tech Challenge, real-life business challenges from local arts organizations will be dissected and re-thought by coders, designers, marketers and other creative professionals over a single weekend at Cintrifuse and #StartUpCincy. Great prizes thanks to sponsor Fifth Third Bank!

Double your gift using #donate on Twitter or Facebook!
Comment or tweet "#Donate $25 to @ArtsWave" on ArtsWave's Facebook page or Twitter (or, really, #donate plus any amount) and your contribution will be processed in a couple of easy steps. Best of all, your contribution will DOUBLE thanks to a matching grant challenge from the Haile Foundation. Go ahead, give $25 and see it become $50 for the arts! With two-times the impact and a couple of easy steps, this is an easy way to give a little more and help us reach the finish line.

Thanks -- and see you this weekend at the Macy's Arts Sampler!