10/01/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SML Gives Becomes Give Local SML
Same Mission. Same Day. New Name.
Smith Mountain Lake, VA (October 1, 2026) – The Smith Mountain Lake region's annual online giving day is entering an exciting new chapter.
Formerly known as SML Gives, the event will now be called Give Local SML, creating greater clarity and reflecting its continued growth and commitment to strengthening communities across Bedford, Franklin, and Pittsylvania Counties.
While the name is changing, the mission remains the same: providing nonprofits the opportunity to fundraise, gain exposure, and build relationships, while bringing the community together to make a big impact.
Originally launched by SML Good Neighbors in 2021 after a previous regional giving day was discontinued, Give Local SML was created to ensure local nonprofits had a collaborative platform to engage donors, increase awareness, and raise critical funding. Since then, the event has grown remarkably.
Beginning with just 13 participating nonprofits in 2022 and raising more than $86,000, the event has expanded each year. Twenty-one nonprofits participated in 2023, raising more than $138,000. In 2024, 37 organizations collectively raised more than $218,000, followed by 37 nonprofits raising more than $235,000 in 2025. The most recent event, held on March 18, 2026, welcomed 50 participating nonprofits and raised more than $387,000.
Since its inception, the annual giving day has generated more than $1 million to support local nonprofit organizations serving the Smith Mountain Lake region.
"Over the past five years, we've watched this event grow into something much bigger than a single day of giving," said Lisa Lietz, Executive Director of SML Good Neighbors.
"The new name, Give Local SML, better reflects our mission of bringing together nonprofits, businesses, donors, and community members to strengthen the place we all call home. While our name has changed, our commitment to local nonprofits and the communities they serve remains exactly the same."
Give Local SML is an annual online giving day, a community-wide fundraising event held entirely online. On one day each year, participating nonprofits from Bedford, Franklin, and now Pittsylvania Counties can come together on a single platform where donors can easily discover and support the causes they care about. In addition to raising funds, the event helps participating organizations increase visibility, connect with new supporters, and build lasting relationships within the community.
The three counties connected by Smith Mountain Lake are home to many outstanding nonprofit organizations working to address challenges such as food insecurity, access to healthcare, educational opportunities, housing instability, environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and other critical community needs.
Give Local SML serves as a call to action for residents, businesses, and visitors to invest in the organizations making a difference every day.
The name change was made in Spring 2026 to provide greater clarity, better reflect the event's regional impact, and position it for continued growth in the years ahead. Although the branding has evolved, SML Good Neighbors will continue to organize the event with the same commitment to supporting local nonprofits and inspiring generosity across the region.
Applications for nonprofits to participate in Give Local SML 2027 will open on November 1, 2026, and close on January 8, 2027.
The community-wide giving day will take place on Wednesday, March 10, 2027, with Early Giving opening on Monday, March 8, 2027.
To learn more or become a sponsor, visit www.givelocalsml.org.
About Give Local SML
Give Local SML is the Smith Mountain Lake region's annual online giving day, organized by SML Good Neighbors.
The event provides nonprofits with the opportunity to fundraise, gain exposure, and build relationships while inspiring the community to support local causes. Since its launch in 2021, Give Local SML has helped raise more than $1 million for nonprofit organizations serving Bedford and Franklin counties, and, starting in 2027, will also include Pittsylvania County nonprofits.
