Centre Gives Returns for 15th Year of Supporting Local Nonprofits

Community members will have an opportunity to support more than 230 local nonprofit organizations when the 36 hours of Centre Gives kicks off on May 6.

Now in its 15th year, Centre Foundation’s online giving event has raised $22.5 million for nonprofits working in areas such as arts and culture, animals, education, environment, health, housing, human services and youth services.

“Together, they reflect what it takes to build a place where everyone has the opportunity to flourish,” Centre Foundation wrote in a news release.

Centre Gives begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, at CentreGives.org and concludes at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 7.

Since the inception of Centre Gives in 2012, the Centre County community has come through in a big way each year, and last year’s event raised a record $2,837,295 raised through 17,841 gifts.

Participants can choose from a long list nonprofits to support with a gift of $10 or more at CentreGives.org.

A stretch pool of $500,000, supported by Centre Foundation and the Hamer Foundation, helps those gifts go further. The more money a nonprofit raises, the greater its share of the pool.

Donors also can help organizations compete for thousands of dollars in additional prize money throughout the event. Power hour prizes are awarded to large and small organizations throughout Centre Gives based on unique donors during a specific hour, and dozens of other prizes will be given out during and at the conclusion of the event.

The focus, though, as always, remains on individuals supporting the causes that matter to them and strengthening the community in the process.

“Every gift is a representation of support for the work already happening across our communities and those gifts help to ensure that good work will continue,” David Lieb, president and CEO of Centre Foundation, said in a statement.