Here’s a press release I received concerning next Tuesday’s “Next Generation Giving Circle’s” Challenge Night. Please check it out – it’s a good cause that will benefit the region’s arts and culture nonprofits:

The Next Generation Giving Circle (NGGC) presents its first ever “Challenge Night” event on October 2, an evening benefiting arts and culture-based nonprofit organizations in the Merrimack Valley.

Three regional arts organizations – 119 Gallery and Free Verse! of Lowell, and 3Rivers Arts of Groton – will compete to be the first beneficiaries of three mini-grants distributed by NGGC, based on the vote of the public in attendance. All three organizations will receive a grant; the first place award is $1,000.

The event is October 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Garcia Brogran’s, 131 Middlesex St, Lowell. Tickets are $25, available at the door, and include refreshments and the opportunity to view and vote on the presentations. Entrance is free with purchase of a $120 annual membership to NGGC.

The Next Generation Giving Circle, an initiative of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, is a network of young professionals in the Merrimack Valley who have dedicated themselves to community-based philanthropic endeavors in the region. Since its inception earlier this year, NGGC has been working to raise funds and recruit new members. The “Challenge Night” event marks an important milestone as the group awards its first mini-grants.

“What excites me about NGGC is the opportunity to pool resources with other young professionals to make an impact in the community,” said Danielle McFadden, President of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce and a NGGC member. “Nonprofits are the heart and soul of the Merrimack Valley and it’s empowering to support them in such a concrete and exciting way.”

The three finalist organizations for Challenge Night were chosen through an open nomination process over the summer. The three finalists are:

• 119 Gallery, of Lowell. 119 Gallery is an organization providing space and support for contemporary and new media art, innovative ideas and cutting-edge techniques. “As a champion for young, emerging artists in Lowell, 119 Gallery is honored to be part of Next Generation Giving Circle’s first Challenge Night,” said Walter Wright, co-founder of 119 Gallery.

• FreeVerse! of Lowell. FreeVerse! is an organization that focuses on introducing and nurturing the culture of spoken word poetry in partnership with youth in the city of Lowell. “FreeVerse! is so honored to be recognized for the work we do. We hope to reach more young people in our city through poetry, and partnerships like the one we’re building with the Next Generation Giving Circle,” said FreeVerse! Executive Director Masada Jones.

• 3Rivers Arts, of Groton. 3Rivers Arts is a regional arts organization touching, inspiring and connecting individuals through the power of the arts. “As a new regional organization in Lowell’s suburbs, we are thrilled and honored to have been selected for Challenge Night,” said Executive Director Monica Hinojos. “We thank Next Generation Giving for the opportunity to compete for funds to support our artists’ collaborative, creative economy initiatives and youth arts programs.”

Each organization will make a brief presentation to convince voters to choose them for the $1,000 grand prize. Everyone in the Challenge Night audience will get to vote for their favorite organizations.