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Nonprofits across the state are offering puppy-snuggling lounges and soirées to encourage people to "give where they live" during a 24-hour fundraising blitz ­­— Love Utah Give Utah.

Thursday caps a month of fundraising for participating nonprofits, which are divided into categories to compete for prizes. Salt Lake Arts Academy led the "Discover and Enlightenment" category Thursday night, with Salty Cricket Composers Collective the runner up and Plan-B Theater Company in third.

In the "Nurturing our Families category," the Rape Recovery Center, Planned Parenthood of Utah and Fit To Recover held the top three spots.

YWCA Utah led in "Inspiring our Community," with Rocky Mountain Innocence Center and Moab Valley Multicultural Center in a tight race for second and third.

Animals and the environment faced off in the final category, with Wildlife SOS in the lead and the Humane Society and Health Environment Alliance of Utah rounding out the top three in "Caring for our Friends and Places."

People can donate to organizations and check the leaderboard at www.LoveUTGiveUT.com">http://www.LoveUTGiveUT.com.

The fifth annual fundraising push aims to raise $1.7 million for participating nonprofits and, as always, hopes to attract more donors. At midnight, $1,083,104 had been raised by 12,408 donors. The Community Foundation of Utah, the campaign's parent entity, partnered with Mark Miller Subaru to offer a three-year lease on a Subaru Impreza as a prize in a raffle available to anyone who donates.

"This is an opportunity to support our state," said Alex Eaton, the foundation's executive director. "This is a wonderful place to live; we're the most philanthropic state."

Nuzzles and Co. Pet Rescue and Adoption has partnered with Even Stevens sandwich shops to provide a pop-up puppy-and-kitten "snuggle lounge" with pets who are available for adoption. Other nonprofits are hosting trivia nights, live music, discussions and workouts. And, of course, breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

Moab Valley Multicultural Center (MVMC) won third place in the small-budget category last year (nonprofits were separated by budget size in previous competitions). The roughly $20,000 raised by individual donors, a matching donation and the prize money enabled the center to hire a new staff member. A former volunteer for the center, the new outreach coordinator finds clients who could benefit from the center's programs — which range from helping with tasks such as applying for apartments and signing kids up for school to supporting clients dealing with domestic violence.

Funds raised for the walk-in crisis center go toward helping clients navigate court systems and tackle immigration issues.

Because the minimum suggested donation is $10 for LUGU, what Love Utah Give Utah participants affectionately call the initiative, MVMC volunteer coordinator Katlyn Keane said donating is more accessible to a lot of the clients her organization serves — many who are in low income brackets.

"It's really good to be able to ask our clients to contribute to the services they're receiving, and a $10 ask is not a scary ask," Keane said. "I like giving our clients an opportunity to contribute to something they utilize."

In addition to daily support, the center hosts cultural outreach, mentoring and other youth programs. In 2015, the center logged 733 hours of support, and in 2016, it increased that time to 905 hours.

Because the bulk of funding comes from individual donations, grants and sponsoring businesses, fundraising efforts continue year-round with events such as the annual Day of the Dead celebration and "Dancing with the Moab Stars."

The center also hosted a tamale lunch and a soirée with free appetizers, music and a raffle in the evening.

Twitter: @tiffany_mf