More than 300 Central Texas charities hope donors will respond favorably to calls to raise $1 million in 24 hours of giving beginning 7 p.m. March 4.

Amplify Austin is a day designed to incentivize giving through sponsors, who offer a $1,000 prize hourly throughout the daylong period to nonprofits that garner the most dollars or donors.

Those interested can choose any of the participating nonprofits, including two Leander-based organizations, Open My World Therapeutic Riding Center and Texas Humane Heroes.

Many of the nonprofits are holding special events during the fundraising campaign. From 9–10 p.m. March 4, Texas Humane Heroes aims to reach $10,000 and plans for the organization's executive director, Ron Marullo, to be dunked in a dunking booth for each $1,000 raised throughout the hour. Video of the event will be posted to a Facebook page; however, area residents can attend the event at the Leander adoption center.

The initiative is sponsored by University Federal Credit Union, the Austin Community Foundation, Whole Foods, Austin Ventures and others. Amplify Austin is produced by the organization I Live Here, I Give Here.