State College, PA – May 12, 2022 – For the eleventh consecutive year, the Centre County community came together to raise funds benefiting local nonprofits through Centre Gives. This year, $2,180,591 was raised via 15,577 total gifts in 36 hours as part of this annual online fundraiser.

Community members gathered at MLK Plaza in downtown State College for Centre Gives Fest on May 11 from 5-9 p.m. to countdown the final four hours of Centre Gives. The celebration included music, giving stations, and activities provided by local participating nonprofits.

“We’re incredibly proud of our community and the generosity that helped nonprofits raise over $2 million this year. The organizations that benefit from Centre Gives are able to do so much good, and we are blown away by our community’s continued support of these nonprofits,” said Molly Kunkel, Executive Director of Centre Foundation.

“We are also excited that we could celebrate the final four hours of Centre Gives with some of our participating organizations and community members live and in person. It meant a lot to us to see how many people came out for Centre Gives Fest and celebrated Centre County’s most philanthropic 36 hours,” said Kunkel.

Local nonprofits, The Flutopia Initiative, The Makery, State College Food Bank, Good Day Café, Park Forest Preschool, ClearWater Conservancy, Centre County PAWS, Mid-State Literacy, Ridgelines Language Arts, Youth Service Bureau, Jana Marie Foundation, Discovery Space, and Centre Safe joined in on the Centre Gives Fest fun. Each organization brought its own special flair to Centre Gives Fest that tied back to its mission.

The State College Food Bank donated refreshments, including healthy snacks and water, for Centre Gives Fest attendees to enjoy.

“We are always very fortunate this time of year for Centre Gives. It helps us immensely, especially heading into the summer. We’ve been seeing an increase in people coming, as well as the cost of food. This will be even more helpful this year than in years past,” said Allayn Beck, Executive Director of the State College Food Bank.

Representatives from ClearWater Conservancy led Centre Gives Fest attendees on an “AWEsome Walk” to observe nature and admire public art downtown.

“We’re delighted to be a part of Centre Gives and Centre Gives Fest. This is our big launch for our sixth season of Centered Outdoors. We’re really excited to share the program and are grateful for the way this event brings the community together,” said Andrea Murrell, Strategic Communications Coordinator at ClearWater Conservancy.

Since Centre Gives began in 2012, over $14.6 million has been invested into the local nonprofit network, supporting organizations in the areas of arts, animals, education, environment, and health and social services.

Centre Gives 2022 was sponsored by many forward-thinking members of the community including the Hamer Foundation, Stuckey Mitsubishi, FNB Wealth Management, Nestlerode & Loy Inc., Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., Frost & Conn Insurance, Blaise Alexander Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, of State College, Blaise Alexander Hyundai Mazda of State College, M&T Bank, Hyatt Place, State College Police Department, Morgan Stanley, The Hartman Agency, Weis Markets, and the William H. & Amy Sue Martin Fund.

Centre Foundation’s advertising efforts for Centre Gives were generously supported by Seven Mountains Media, Forever Media, Centre Daily Times, State College Magazine, and Lamar.

During Centre Gives, gifts grow due to the stretch pools totaling $300,000 provided by Centre Foundation and the Hamer Foundation, along with more than $40,000 in prizes.

Read below to see which prizes were awarded during Centre Gives 2022.

Prizes of $1,000 were awarded to the top five large and small organizations with the most unique donors for the entirety of Centre Gives.

Top 5 Large Organization Prize winners include: Centre County PAWS, Schlow Library Foundation, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, State College Food Bank, and Pets Come First.

Top 5 Small Organization Prize winners include: Centre Wildlife Care, Nittany Greyhounds, Park Forest Preschool, Nittany Beagle Rescue, and The Hundred Cat Foundation.

Power Hour Prizes of $500 were awarded to the large and small organizations with the most unique donors during designated hours.

Power Hour Prize winners for large organizations include: Schlow Centre Region Library, State College Food Bank, Strawberry Fields, Pets Come First, Easterseals Child Development Center, Centre County PAWS, Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Out of the Cold: Centre County, and Centre Volunteers in Medicine.

Power Hour Prize winners for small organizations include: Nittany Beagle Rescue, Bridge of Hope Centre County, Dyslexia Reading Center, Park Forest Preschool, State College Area Roller Derby, Centre Wildlife Care, Nittany Greyhounds, Bellefonte Art Museum, The Hundred Cat Foundation, TriYoga of Central Pennslvania, and Pixie Dust Wishes.

Countdown to #CentreGives prizes of $250 each were randomly awarded to organizations that participated in Facebook challenges before the start of Centre Gives.

Countdown Prize winners include: Centre Safe, Dyslexia Reading Center, Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary, and Bridge of Hope Centre County

The organization that received the very first donation during Centre Gives 2022 was selected to win a $250 prize.

First Gift Prize winner is: St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy

Organizations that benefit from endowment funds at Centre Foundation had an opportunity to win an additional $500.

Nonprofit Endowment Partners Prize winners include: Park Forest Preschool, Centre County PAWS, Schlow Library Foundation, and Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County

One small and one large organization that created a promotional video for Centre Gives 2022 were selected to win a $500 prize.

Creative Video Prize winners are: State College Community Theatre and Foxdale Village.

One organization participating in its first Centre Gives was randomly selected to win $250.

The New Participant Prize winner: Centre County Orphan Care Alliance.

Centre Foundation is celebrating over 40 years of creating a vibrant Centre County! In honor the foundation’s anniversary, the organization receiving the 1,981st gift during Centre Gives 2022 was selected to win $250.

41st Anniversary Prize Winner is: Jana Marie Foundation.

The organization which received the donation pushing Centre Gives past the $1 million mark was selected to win a $250 prize.

Million Maker Prize winner is: Out of the Cold: Centre County

The organization which received the donation pushing Centre Gives past the $2 million mark was selected to win a $250 prize.

Two Million Maker Prize winner is: Howard Volunteer Fire Company

In honor of Centre Gives’ 11-year anniversary, the organization that received the donation closest to 20:12 (8:12 PM) on May 11 was selected to win a $250 prize.

11 Years of Centre Gives winner is: State College Area Roller Derby

Magic Minute prizes of $100 each were awarded to the first 20 organizations that received a gift during the exact minute of 3:33 PM.

Magic Minute Prize winners include: Discovery Space and The Rivet, Juniata Valley Council Boy Scouts, Nittany Performing Arts Centre, Footprints in the Field, Ten Thousand Villages State College, Nittany Christian School, Next Stage Theatre Company, Friends of Golden Pond, Pixie Dust Wishes, Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania, Pets Come First, Mid-State Literacy Council, Inc., Friends of Holt Memorial Library, ACRES Project, State College Area Rowing, State College Community Theatre, Centre County PAWS, Dyslexia Reading Center, Strawberry Fields, Inc., and State College Area Roller Derby

At 11:30 AM on May 11, two large and two small organizations that benefit from endowment funds at Centre Foundation were randomly selected to win $250 each.

Endowment Lucky Ticket Prize winners are: Bethany Christian Services of Central PA – State College, Mount Nittany Health Foundation, Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, and United Nations Association of Centre County

At 4:30 PM on May 11, one organization from each of the following regions was randomly selected for a $250 prize: Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, Penns Valley, Philipsburg, and State College.

Regional Lucky Ticket Prize winners are:

Every gift of $100 or more given between 10 PM-midnight on May 10 was entered into a random drawing for their organization to win an additional $500 prize.

Night Owl Prize winners are: Out of the Cold: Centre County and Nittany Beagle Rescue.

Every gift of $100 or more given between 5-7 AM on May 11 was entered into a random drawing for their organization to win an additional $500 prize.

Rise and Shine Prize winners are: Penns Valley Youth Center and Pixie Dust Wishes.

For the first time, Centre Foundation celebrated the final four hours of Centre Gives live at Centre Gives Fest. Four prizes of $250 each were awarded based on a random drawing of those who submitted their favorite nonprofit to win at Centre Gives Fest.

Centre Gives Fest Prize winners are: Park Forest Preschool, Centre Safe, Strawberry Fields, Inc., and Ten Thousand Villages State College.

The donor who gives to the most organizations during Centre Gives 2022 was invited to select one organization to receive an additional $500 prize.

Good Neighbor Prize winner: One Dog at a Time.

At the conclusion of Centre Gives, fifteen Last Chance Prizes of $250 each were awarded to organizations that had not previously won a prize.

Last Chance Prize winners include: Aaronsburg Civic Club, Bellefonte Historical & Cultural Association, Center for Alternatives in Community Justice, Centre County Farmland Trust, Centre Helps, Global Connections, Penns Valley Emergency Medical Service, Soroptimist International of Centre County, State College Choral Society, State College Music Boosters, State College SDA Diaper Bank, St. Vincent de Paul Society, The Jared Box Project, The Roland Curtin Foundation for the Preservation of Eagle Furnace, and The Tides Program.

For more information visit www.CentreGives.org.