The Centre County community once again came through in a big way to support local nonprofit organizations during Centre Gives.
Centre Foundation’s 14th annual 36-hour online giving event concluded on Thursday night with $2,837,295 raised through 17,841 gifts to more than 230 nonprofit organizations. The total surpassed the previous mark of $2,493,819 through 16,577 gifts set in 2024.
“This year, you rose to the challenge again, and it was your support that made Centre Gives 2025 a tremendous success,” Centre Foundation wrote on the Centre Gives website. “Thank you for your commitment to making a difference in our community.”
Since its inception in 2012, Centre Gives has now raised more than $22.5 million for organizations working in the areas of arts, animals, education, environment, health and social services and more.
For the fourth consecutive year, the event concluded with Centre Gives Fest, a community celebration that for the second time was held at Brass 16823 in Titan Energy Park in Bellefonte. The festival included food trucks, music by DJ Elbow Knee Knee and Kevin Clair of Gorinto Productions and nearly 40 participating nonprofits providing information, games and activities.
Centre Gives saw a record number of participating organizations and a growth in corporate sponsors. Centre Foundation Executive Director Molly Kunkel said Tuesday’s Centre County Board of Commissioners meeting that the organization also boosted outreach for the event.
“As part of our new strategic plan we… tried to do a lot more marketing and outreach, trying to get directly the word of Centre Gives to as many households in the county as possible,” Kunkel said. “So we’re hoping not only to increase the amount that benefits nonprofits in what is a challenging situation for a lot of nonprofits right now, but also just get more community members involved in philanthropy.”
Donors could give to their nonprofits of choice with gifts of $10 or more. Gifts during Centre Gives were boosted by a $500,000 stretch pool — increased from $300,000 last year — provided by Centre Foundation and the Hamer Foundation, which allows organizations to earn additional funds with each donation received, as well as $40,000 in prizes, many of which were provided by corporate sponsors. Kunkel called the Hamer Foundation’s contribution a “wonderful example of generosity in the community”
Centre Volunteers in Medicine had the largest total raised among all participating organizations with $108,374 from 438 donors.
“We are beyond grateful for the community’s generosity during Centre Gives,” CVIM wrote in a Facebook post. “We couldn’t do what we do without your support, which is crucial to CVIM’s mission of delivering compassionate care, improving health outcomes and ensuring access to essential healthcare services for our community.”
Centre County PAWS had the most unique donors at 681 and the second highest fundraising total with $105,101.
“Thank you to our incredible community of animal lovers,” PAWS wrote on Facebook. “Your [Centre Gives] support equals hundreds of animals in loving new homes and thousands of animals spayed, neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Your donations during Centre Gives will help us save lives in the months to come and we are so grateful.”
Among small organizations, CommonFood Centre County, which purchases and distributes nutritious food for individuals and families in need, had the highest total with $49,805 from 26 donors. CommonFood wrote on Facebook that the funds will help with the purchase of a food distribution building in Port Matilda.
Centre Wildlife Care had the most donors among small organizations with 376, who gave $42,888.
Prizes of $500 were awarded to the top 10 large and small organizations with the most unique donors.
Large organization prize winners:
Centre County PAWS
Schlow Library Foundation
Centre Volunteers in Medicine
State College Food Bank
Pets Come First
ClearWater Conservancy
Out of the Cold: Centre County
Centre Safe (formerly Centre County Women’s Resource Center)
Park Forest Preschool
Jana Marie Foundation
Small organization prize winners:
Centre Wildlife Care
The Hundred Cat Foundation
Nittany Beagle Rescue
Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County
Centre LGBT+
Penns Valley Conservation Association
State College Area Roller Derby
Dyslexia Reading Center
State College Music Boosters
Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary
To see other prize winners, individual fundraising totals and more information about Centre Gives, visit centregives.org.
