There were signs of a massive Match Day before Tuesday’s official check presentation ceremony — but most people on hand were totally shocked at the individual check amounts and the final total announced at Flinthills Mall as part of live coverage on KVOE.
The final total was over $501,000, above last year’s previous record of over $455,000. Emporia Community Foundation CEO Becky Nurnberg says it was a notable year all the way around.
Community Foundation Board President Jeff Williams says the donations demonstrate the area’s willingness to help others.
The first-ever Match Day brought in around $34,000. This year, Team Schnak generated over $84,000, while Pioneer Bluffs raised almost $52,000. Representing Team Schnak, with organizer Kent Schnakenberg out of town, were Mike and Kim LoPorto, whose daughter has Type 1 diabetes:
Pioneer Bluffs Director Lynn Smith:
Following fundraising of over $15,000 to The Baby Closet, First Congregational Pastor Cheryl Henson offered a prayer of gratitude and blessing — saying the area is the most generous she has been involved in during a nearly 50-year career in ministry.
Match Day Committee Chair Ruth Wheeler was heartened by the areawide support — starting at a young age through the Growing Up Giving program involving area elementary schools.
Twenty-eight community groups will receive funds — the results of their own handiwork and a percentage of the $70,000 matching pool as provided by:
*Clint Bowyer 79 Fund
*Jane and Bernard Reeble Endowed Fund
*Preston Family Trust
*Trusler Foundation
*WS and EC Jones Testamentary Trust
*Nick and Jan Laurent; Fred and Paula Neuer
*Emporia Masonic Lodge No. 12
Match Day totals
*Arvonia Historic Preservation Society: $16,058.98
*The Baby Closet of Emporia: $15,224.76
*Bloom House Youth Services: $5,770.83
*C4 Food Pantry (Chase County Care & Compassion, Inc.): $20,402.93
*Camp Alexander: $19,893.39
*Chase County Historical Society and Museum: $15,267.62
*Emporia Area Habitat for Humanity: $28,711.59
*Emporia Celebrates the Flint Hills: $5,645.59
*Emporia Eastside Community Group: $4,316.91
*Emporia First Friday Art Walk: $10,821.73
*Family Promise of the Flint Hills: $9,673.50
*Food for Students: $23,299.30
*Friends of the Emporia Public Library: $11,544.05
*Latimer Lutheran Church Preservation Society: $14,045.86
*Lyon County Crime Stoppers: $6,167.61
*Lyon County History Center: $22,368.85
*Main Street Mommas: $17,647.54
*Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards, Inc.: $23,216.63
*NLC Youth Association: $18,506.03
*Olpe Downhome: $5,427.72
*Pioneer Bluffs: $51,978.05
*Project Playscape: $14,459.35
*Red Rocks – William Allen White Community Partnership: $6,160.48
*Street Cats Club: $13,118.64
*Team Schnak Strong: $84,305.07
*Vernon H. Buck VFW Post 7957: $17,326.76
*Volland Foundation, Inc.: $8,604.62
*Wade Barrett Memorial Fund: $11,901.23
