2018 Match Day approaching

With the fifth annual Match Day approaching, several local organizations were in studio discussing how donations aid their missions.

With Match Day continuing to be a massive success last year, reaching six figures, Emporia Community Foundation Director Becky Jeppesen says she is amazed at the ever-growing impact the event has on Emporia and the surrounding community.

 

This year’s Match Day will benefit 25 different organizations who are both long-term benefactors and brand new to the event. One such organization is the Wade Barrett Memorial Fund which seeks to educate the community on Sudden Infant Death Syndrom (SIDS).

Fund co-founder Gail Barrett says she is looking forward to the face to face interaction with community members.

 

Hispanics of Today and Tomorrow (HOTT) will once again be on hand at Match Day as they have since the first event in 2014. Representative Megan Sandoval says donations benefit a majority of their programs, specifically the education of local students.

 

Sandy Knight, founder of the Never Let Go Fund which aids families battling cancer with financial support. Having lost her son in 2011 to brain cancer, Knight says she understands how hard the financial turnaround can be after the fight has been fought.

Military Care Packages will again be a participating organization. The group benefits Kansas troops stationed overseas with care packages during the holidays. Spokesperson Geneta Thill says with roughly 853 Kansas troops to benefit this year, every dime makes a difference.

 

Jeppesen says Match Day allows many organizations to not just exist but also survive and thrive. This is a sentiment shared by Food For Students representative Chris Walker who says funds from Match Day and the United Way allowed them to keep their program up and running.

 

The Emporia Sertoma Club’s Miniature Train also benefits greatly from donations in terms of maintenance and repairs. Sertoma Club member Mark Summey explains the train is somewhat of a landmark for Emporia, which makes it’s upkeep all the more important.

 

Several of the programs benefited by Match Day funds are extremely unique. This is the case for Pioneer Bluffs who seek to educate on the rich history of ranching in the Flinthills with their Day on the Prairie event for school children.

Pioneer Bluffs Executive Director Lynn Smith explains they are the only site in the midwest with programs specifically dedicated to education on this topic.

Match Day will be held Monday, November 12 from 9 am to 7 pm at the Flint Hills Mall. A new component for this year’s Match Day will allow community members to donate online November 12 at Emporiamatchday.com for 24 hours.

The full list of participating organizations is as follows: 

Arvonia Historic Preservation Society