MATCH DAY: Over $667,000 generated this year; 10-year total goes above $3 million

Match Day’s final dollar amount continues to climb.

Having reset fundraising records every year since it started, the 10th annual Match Day through the Emporia Community Foundation shattered last year’s prior record of $501,000, generating almost $668,000 as announced at Flinthills Mall on Tuesday. CEO Becky Nurnberg, who retires this upcoming spring, says the area support reflects the goals and objectives of the participating groups.

Team Schnak garnered almost $95,000 to help children battle diabetes. Student Chase Johnson spoke on behalf of Team Schnak administrators Kent and Natalie Schnakenberg:

The Greenwood Preservation Society raised over $40,000 in its first time participating in Match Day. Spokesperson Heather Fuesz thanked the Community Foundation and representatives of the other participating groups for their work.

Thirty-five groups participated this year, with 14 individuals and organizations contributing a matching pool of $175,000. All these numbers were records for the fundraiser, which averaged almost $10 donated per person in the Match Day counties. Match Day has now generated almost $3.1 million for community projects in Lyon and surrounding counties since it started.

Match Day totals by participating group

*Arvonia Historic Preservation Society: $24,354.72
*Camp Alexander: $25,230.81
*C4 Food Pantry (Chase County Care & Compassion): $34,457.73
*Chase County Historical Society and Museum: $22,767.80
*Emporia Area Habitat for Humanity: $26,991.43
*Emporia Children’s Choir: $3,525.92
*Emporia Eastside Community Group: $7,203.97
*Emporia First Friday Art Walk: $9,366.81
*Emporia Municipal Band: $4,109.08
*FEAS (Flint Hills Animal Advocates): $15,055.84
*Food for Students: $23,454.08
*Friends of the Emporia Public Library: $9,838.46
*First United Methodist Church School Supply Project: $20,315.70
*Greenwood Preservation Society: $40,895.65
*Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow: $6,432.97
*House of Morrow: $3,234.47
*Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters Serving Lyon County: *9,372.15
*Latimer Lutheran Church Preservation Society: $11,477.98
*Lyon County Crime Stoppers: $7,201.13
*Lyon County History Center: $30,859.66
*Main Street Mommas: $21,824.91
*Mount Mitchell Prairie Guards: $25,095.01
*Newman Regional Health Volunteers: $12,028.03
*NLC Youth Association: $27,798.99
*No Coast Film Fest: $1,233.96
*Olpe Downhome: $2,182.38
*Pink Gravel: $9,586.06
*Pioneer Bluffs: $54,954.76
*Project Playscape: $5,274.91
*Red Rocks – William Allen White Community Partnership: $6,895.46
*Strong City Preservation Alliance: $32,784.74
*Team Schnak: $94,892.60
*The Baby Closet of Emporia: $13,533.02
*VFW Post 7957: $13,367.23
*Wade Barrett Memorial Fund: $6,625.32

Match Day matching pool funders

*Antes Charitable Family Fund
*Clint Bowyer 79 Fund
*ECF Fund for the Future
*Emporia Masonic Lodge No. 12, A.F. & A.M.
*Joyce French
*Gilpin Family Fund
*WS & EC Jones Testamentary Trust, Bank of America, N.A. Trustee
*Laurent Charitable Family Fund
*Fred and Paula Neuer Fund
*Patterson Family Foundation
*Preston Family Trust
*Merry and Charles Rayl
*Jane and Bernard Reeble Endowed Fund
*Trusler Foundation.

Videos by Dylan Sherwood/KVOE News