Community members gave back to the place they love in a major way over the past 36 hours – raising well over a million dollars from over 8,700 gifts to benefit non-profit organizations serving Centre County.

“We live in such a tremendously generous community,” said Molly Kunkel, Executive Director of Centre Foundation. “Each year, the response is absolutely amazing! Since Centre Gives began in 2012, we’ve broken records every year –in participating organizations, in gifts, and in dollars raised.”

Voted “Best Fundraising Event,” part of the popularity of the online giving event is the way donors’ gifts go further when made during the 36 hours of Centre Gives.

“Donors know a good deal when they see it,” noted Kunkel. “Gifts go further during Centre Gives, stretched by the $200,000 stretch pool and $25,000 in prizes.”

Each year, Centre Foundation provides a $100,000 stretch pool and prize money. This year, the Hamer Foundation added a $100,000 gift – increasing the stretch pool to a total of $200,000.

“We are so grateful to the Hamer Foundation,” added Kunkel. “Their generosity will be felt across Centre County, from Philipsburg to Penns Valley and everywhere in between. Organizations working in every charitable field imaginable will be able to feel the impact of this gift.”

The more an organization raises, the larger its share of the pro-rated $200,000 stretch pool.

“In addition to the stretch pool, there are also many prizes during Centre Gives,” Kunkel said. “The prizes add a fun and competitive flair that donors enjoy vying for on behalf of their favorite organizations.”

Prizes based on most unique donors help level the playing field for organizations; they are also distributed in pairs, one for a large organization and one for a small organization.

“Top 5 Overall” prizes of $1,000 for most unique donors during the entire 36 hours of Centre Gives were awarded to Centre County PAWS, Schlow Library, ClearWater Conservancy, The State Theatre, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, Centre Wildlife Care, Pets Come First, State College Area Roller Derby, Penns Valley Conservation Association, and TriYoga.

Other organizations received a $500 prize for having the most unique donors during a given ‘power hour’ included: Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania, Camp Kesem – Central PA, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Centre County Housing & Land Trust, Centre County PAWS, ClearWater Conservancy, Discovery Space, Grace Prep High School, Nittany Greyhounds, Park Forest Preschool, Penns Valley Conservation Association, Penns Valley Youth Center, Schlow Library, Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, State College Area Roller Derby, The State Theatre, and TriYoga.

Organizations receiving $250 randomly drawn “Golden Ticket” prizes included: Centre County Library & Historical Museum, Juniata Valley Council Boy Scouts, Centre County Historical Society, and the State of Hope Foundation.

Finally, there were a few pre-event prizes given out to organizations participating in the March Success Series trainings and Facebook Challenges: Center for Alternatives in Community Justice, ClearWater Conservancy, The State Theatre, Nittany Beagle Rescue, State College Area Roller Derby, and Our Children’s Center Montessori School.

Since Centre Gives began in 2012, about $5.4 million has been invested in the local non-profit network. Community members’ generous gifts have supported local non-profit organizations working in the areas of arts, animals, education, environment, and health & social services.

Centre Gives 2017 is sponsored by many forward-thinking members of our community, including the Hamer Foundation, Knight Foundation, First National Bank, PSECU, Balfurd Dry Cleaners, and Tom and Sara Songer of the Torron Group.

To learn more, please visit CentreGives.org and save the date for next year: May 8-9, 2018!