BUCHANAN — Three local HEALTH nonprofits — Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan, Girls on the Run Southwest Michigan, and Be Healthy Berrien — have been chosen as the contestants in United Way of Southwest Michigan’s third Pop Up Giving event.

Pop Up Giving will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 9 at Lehman’s Orchard Brewery & Farmhouse in Buchanan. This event gives the community the chance to which entity should be awarded funds. Doors open at 5 p.m. Presentations begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at uwsm.org/pop-up-giving. 

Individual tickets are $20 and include one free drink and light appetizers provided by Lehman’s. Doors open at 5 p.m. Presentations begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at uwsm.org/pop-up-giving. 

The nonprofits have three minutes to pitch a project that will impact the community, followed by two minutes of Q&A with the audience. (The audience has five minutes to complete their ballots to determine the winner.) Proceeds from ticket sales are combined to create a “donation pot.” Second and third place finishers each receive consolation cash prizes of $250, while the organization with the most votes wins the rest.

The organizations will make their pitch on the following projects:

• School-based child abuse prevention education

• Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan

• Girls on the Run 5K — Scholarship and Support for Running Buddies

• Girls on the Run Southwest Michigan

• Improving access to healthy food and physical activity

• Be Healthy Berrien

“The event sponsor, United Federal Credit Union, reviewed the submissions from our health partners, and while all were very worthy projects, they chose three that stood out,” said Charlotte Becker, director of annual campaign at United Way of Southwest Michigan. “Now it’s up to the community to decide which one has the best pitch. It’s a fast, fun way for the audience to make instant impact on the community.”

United Federal Credit Union has already donated $1,000 to the effort.

United Way of Southwest Michigan seeks to fight for community members’ health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. To join the fight through giving, advocacy and volunteering those interested can visit uwsm.org.