By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
The fifth annual Greater Geary Community Match Day provided a combined $544, 363 for 57 nonprofit organizations in the community. In addition to individual donations matching funds are provided by local foundations. Match Day this year will be Oct. 15 at the Municipal Auditorium from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There will be $162,000 in matching money.
Donations can be made at the Municipal Auditorium on Oct. 15 or by mail.
During a gathering at the C.L. Hoover Opera House on Monday organizations benefitting from Match Day provided details on their operation.
The Geary County Food Pantry has received funding from Match Day plus other sources. They plan to break ground this Saturday on a new 38,400 square foot Pantry facility at 7th & Clay.
Sheila Markley with the Opera House touched on the importance of promoting their activities, the recent opening of their new education building and their expanding programs.
The Junction City Breakfast Optimist Club works to provide funding to 16 different youth organizations. Referring to Match Day, Dr. Ferrell Miller, Club Secretary, said, "Every little bit helps." He added it's about teaching kids to give back. The Club also funds three annual scholarships
Support for Match day and other local projects comes from the Hoover-Koken Foundation, R2B4 Bramlage Family Foundation and Central Charities Foundation.
The Greater Geary Community Foundation received a $70,000 grant last year that was used to also award mini-grants to 17 local nonprofit organizations. Officials hope to do it again this year.
The Greater Geary Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation.