By Eugene Kane Senior Writer and Columnist Published Mar 14, 2013 at 3:05 PM

It's been a great "Match Day" so far, according to Sue Potts of Community Advocates, Inc.

Potts is director of grants and fundraising for Community Advocates, 728 N. James Lovell St., a non profit group devoted to providing low income and challenged Milwaukee families and individuals with advocacy and services.

Community Advocates is the largest human needs advocacy agency in Wisconsin. Community Advocates is also one of the only remaining community-based organizations of any kind still welcoming walk-in clients five days a week.

The group is one of 21 non-profit organizations participating in today's online  fundraising event called "Match Day," as donations to the various groups are matched by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation along with other partners.

"It's been a huge day for us," said Potts, who told me Community Advocates had raised about $24,000 by the time we talked noon Thursday. 

The totals were just as impressive for other organizations involved with Match Day, including The Guest House of Milwaukee, the Hope Center, the Hunger Task Force, the Rescue Mission and Sojourner Truth. Thousands of dollars in donations will be matched by a grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, as well as other Match Day partners, the Milwaukee Brewers Foundation,  the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and the Faye McBeath Foundation.

Potts said other cities have done Match Days with non-profit groups in the past but this year, she said, "March 14 is all ours!"

Last year during the inaugural Match Day in Milwaukee,  the local groups raised $1.8 million. Potts and the other non-profit group are hoping to match or exceed that total. 

The theme of this year's Match Day is "basic needs" said Potter. "We decided that's what was needed most."

To make a donation, go to the website

Match Day continues until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday night.  

Eugene Kane Senior Writer and Columnist

Eugene Kane is veteran Milwaukee journalist and nationally award winning columnist.

Kane writes about a variety of important issues in Milwaukee and society that impact residents of all backgrounds.