‘We are astounded.’ Centre County community breaks records with annual giving event
Centre Gives received a record $2.19 million in donations this year — a total that surpassed last year’s total of $1.44 million.
The 36-hour giving event concluded Wednesday night and set a new record with 17,000 gifts. This year, the Centre Foundation expanded its efforts to help nonprofits that canceled traditional fundraisers due to the coronavirus. With a $100,000 bonus stretch pool, $40,000 in prizes and a lowered minimum gift amount, the campaign surpassed last year by more than $750,000.
“We are astounded by the complete outpouring of support that Centre Gives received this year, despite the challenges COVID-19 has brought,” Molly Kunkel, executive director of Centre Foundation, said in a release. “We are so incredibly proud of what the community has done to support the nonprofit sector in just 36 hours.”
This year’s expanded prizes included:
- $1,000 gifts for large and small organizations with the most unique donors: Centre County PAWS, Schlow Library Foundation, State College Food Bank, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, Pets Come First, Centre Wildlife Care, Out of the Cold: Centre County, Nittany Greyhounds, The Hundred Cat Foundation and Bellefonte Art Museum.
- $500 were awarded to large and small organizations with the most unique donors during a designated hour: Schlow Library Foundation, Housing Transitions, Centre Safe, Strawberry Fields, Centre County PAWS, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, ACRES Project, Pets Come First, Performing Arts School of Central PA, Discovery Space, 3 Dots Downtown, TriYoga of Central PA, Nittany GreyHounds, Dyslexia Reading Center, State College Area Roller Derby, Centre Wildlife Care, Bridge of Hope Centre County, Bellefonte Art Museum, Nittany Beagle Rescue, The Hundred Cat Foundation and OOTC3
- $500 were awarded to some organizations with Centre Foundation endowment funds: YMCA of Centre County, Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, The Art Alliance and State College Meals on Wheels.
- $100 each were awarded to the first 20 organizations that received a gift at the exact minute of 3:33 p.m.: State College Area Roller Derby, Appalachian Food Works, Centre County Library and Historical Museum, Mach One Slalom Team, Bellefonte Art Museum, Acres Project, State College Community Theatre, Rhoneymeade, Rowland Theatre, JCC Nursery School, Hands on Therapeutic Riding Program, Pets Come First, Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania, 3 Dots Downtown, Park Forest Preschool, Centre County PAWS, Downtown Bellefonte, Inc., Pixie Dust Wishes, Pennsylvania Prison Society Centre County Chapter and the Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania.
- $250 “last chance” prizes for organizations that hadn’t previously won a prize: Howard Volunteer Fire Company, State College Choral Society, The Music Academy, Centre County Animal Response Team, Centre Region Down Syndrome Society, Bestwick Foundation, State College Friends School, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Mount Nittany Health Foundation, Taproot Kitchen, Centre Helps, Alzheimer’s Association, St. John the Evangelist School, Nittany Valley Figure Skating Club and The Arc of Centre County.
- $250 randomly awarded to an organization participating in its first Centre Gives: The Community Cafe at St. Andrew’s
Additionally, one organization participating in its first Centre Gives was randomly selected to win $250.
$250 for organizations that participated in Facebook challenges: One Dog at a Time, The Oaks at Pleasant Gap, Easterseals and Centre County PAWS.
The State College Food Bank received the highest amount of donations — $111,251 — out of 180 participants.
“We are speechless,” says a post on the food bank’s Facebook. “We are beyond grateful for each and every one of you and all you have done. Words are powerless to express our gratitude. It is truly humbling to see our community coming together to support us and so many wonderful organizations.”
Since its 2012 founding, Centre Gives has donated over $10.3 million to local nonprofits and organizations supporting the arts, animals, education, the environment and health and social services.
