The Lafayette Oxford Foundation for Tomorrow will host its third-annual Night for Nonprofits event on Thursday at 6 p.m.

This year, LOFT has allocated $50,000 to support grant award winners, which includes three crowd favorite awards voted on by the attendees. Eligible organizations include Boys & Girls Club, Burns Belfry Multicultural Center, Doors of Hope, Family Crisis Services, First Regional Library, Friends of Thacker Mountain Radio, Inc., Girl Scouts, Gordon Center, Health Services in Action, Inc., Interfaith Compassion Ministry, Living Music Resource, Memory Makers Respite Day Services, Mississippi Coats 4 Kidz, Mississippi Presenters’ Network, Oxford Civic Chorus, Oxford Film Festival, Theatre Oxford, UM School of Education, United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County and Yoknapatawpha Arts Council.

“This year, we have a lot more grant recipients. Last year, we had five categories and one winner for each, but this year, we have multiple winners in all five categories,” Jody Holland, of LOFT, said. “We’re giving $50,000 away, more money that we’ve ever given away before.”

Night for Nonprofits will begin with a cocktail hour, during which guests will have the opportunity to sample from a culinary tasting table featuring food from Oxford restaurants while also browsing displays and interacting with nonprofit representatives that showcase the work local nonprofits are performing in the community.

Holland said the goal of the event is threefold. First, it allows nonprofit organizations to network among each other. Second, he said, it’s a chance for the community to see the wide array of nonprofit organizations. Third, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate the giving of local monies to local nonprofits, he said.

Those who are interested in helping LOFT in its mission have a few options, Holland said.

“The way we grow our endowment is planned designated giving,” he said. “People who contribute can be a part of this by helping further this legacy.”

Since it began in 2005, LOFT has awarded over 100 grants, totaling $350,000.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting http://loftms.org.