PHOTO PROVIDED Volunteers, nonprofit organizers and attendees pose for a group photo at Centre Gives Fest to celebrate their record breaking fundraising campaign.
BELLEFONTE — The Centre County community fundraised a record-breaking $2,493,819 during Centre Gives, the Centre Foundation’s 36 hour annual online giving event benefiting local nonprofits. During the event, which lasted from 8 a.m. May 8 until 8 p.m. May 9, 16,577 donations were made to over 200 participating local organizations. This fundraiser saw an increase of over 1,300 donations from last year and a total fundraising tally $177,504 more than in 2023, the previous record breaking year.
“We are thrilled by the overwhelming response and exceptional generosity shown during Centre Gives,” said Molly Kunkel, president and CEO of Centre Foundation. “The incredible success of the fundraiser is a testament to the generosity of our community and their dedication to making Centre County an even better place for all. We are deeply grateful for each and every donor and sponsor who chose to invest in the future of our community.”
Since Centre Gives began in 2012, over $19 million has been invested in local nonprofits, supporting organizations in the areas of arts, animals, education, environment, human services, and more. Last year alone, over $4 million was invested into the Centre County community.
“A number of years ago, they did a study and Centre County residents are, on a per share of income basis, the second most generous county in the state after Lancaster,” said Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins, who was in attendance at Centre Gives Fest, the annual community celebration marking the grand finale of the online fundraiser.
Due to inclement weather, Centre Gives Fest was moved from Talleyrand Park where it is typically held to Brass 16823, an event venue in Bellefonte that graciously offered the space free of charge. Hundreds gathered for the celebration, which included music, local food, giving stations and a variety of family-friendly activities hosted by participating nonprofits.
“I would liken it to a dream, you’re like, ‘there’s somebody I met once 10 years ago,’ and then ‘there’s a bunch of dogs.’ ‘Is that a falcon?’ And there’s some stickers and there’s a spinning wheel,” said Executive Director of 3 Dots, Erica Quinn, about Centre Gives Fest. “It’s just this fun celebration of the people who are doers, the makers, the thinkers, the feelers and the advocates for the region.”
3 Dots, an arts community space in downtown State College, was one of the 30 plus local nonprofits that joined the Centre Gives Fest fun. Each participating organization brought its own special flair by hosting an activity that tied its mission to the spirit of Centre Gives.
Cynthia Mazant for example, who attended Centre Gives with Tempest Productions and the Central Pennsylvania Theatre and Dance Fest, could be found making balloon hats for attendees like Commissioner Higgins who wore his throughout the evening.
“Centre Fest has been a wonderful way to showcase all of the local nonprofits and arts organizations that are here. It also just shows what a big community that we have,” said Mazant whose organization was fundraising money to pay the performing artists they work with fair wages.During Centre Gives, gifts go further thanks to the $300,000 in stretch pools provided by the Centre Foundation and the Hamer Foundation, along with $40,000 in prizes.
“A lot of people will say, ‘I don’t have a lot of money to give to charity,’ but during this you spend $25 to give to an organization, and then Centre Gives is able to give us additional funding, so it’s a big boon for all of us,” she said.
“The Centre Foundation is assisting charities in such a way to make them more efficient,” said Higgins. “These charities didn’t have to set up a website, rent their own venue or have to work directly with vendor organizers. You have over 200 charities and they’re splitting the costs essentially for free because of the Centre Foundation. That makes this an incredibly efficient and effective way for these charities to fundraise.”
Within its first 12 hours, the campaign raised over $1 million, a testament to the efficacy Higgins praises.
“Centre Gives is really the best time of the year to support your favorite nonprofits because gifts go further thanks to our stretch pool and prizes. There’s no better time to give than now and you don’t have to make a huge donation of $5,000 or $1,000 dollars. Even $10 goes a long way when you add it up together with the whole community’s generosity,” said Centre Foundation Community Impact Director Rachael Hartman.
Marisa Vicere, President and Founder of the Jana Marie Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about participating in Centre Gives.
“It’s a tremendous display of community solidarity in Centre County. We all work together to support each other, our friends, and our neighbors,” she said.
Centre Gives 2024 was sponsored by many members of the community, including the Hamer Foundation, FNB Wealth Management, Nestlerode & Loy Inc., Stuckey Mitsubishi, Morgan Stanley, Frost & Conn Insurance, M&T Bank, King Financial Partners, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., McQuaide Blasko, State College Police Department, The Hartman Agency, Kish Bank and the William H. & Amy Sue Martin Fund at Centre Foundation.Seven Mountains Media, Centre Daily Times and Lamar generously supported Centre Foundation’s advertising efforts for Centre Gives.
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