Geary Community Match Day sets a new fundraising record

Susan Moyer - Dorothy Bramlage Public Library

Match Day set a new high in Geary County on Tuesday. Donors could make contributions to 39 different organizations.

As of late Tuesday night 988 gifts had been received equating to $284, 902.82. That exceeded last year's total of approximately $240,000 and donations could be submitted until midnight. Others were expected to arrive in the mail later.

Calvin Pottberg, who coordinated the event, anticipates approximately 25 - 30 donations will arrive in the mail in the next few days. "S0 it's exceeded our expectations again this year."

C.L. Hoover Opera House items on display

Checking top donation totals to organizations as of early Wednesday morning the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library had received 91 gifts totaling a combined $31,180. The C.L. Hoover Opera House had received 71 gifts for a total of $27,495.

Additional top donation totals included:

--$18,360 for the First Presbyterian Church

--$15,460 for Junction City Main Street

--$14,020 First United Methodist Church

--$14,385 Aging Well

--$13,340 Geary County Food Pantry

--$12, 645 Episcopal Church of the Covenant Endowment Fund

--$11,210 Junction City Family YMCA Inc.

--$9,580 for Quality Play for All.

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Donors could make contributions to numerous local organizations on Tuesday, and for every dollar given to participating funds the Greater Geary Community Foundation will provide a 50% match up to $7,500 per organization.

Coordinator Calvin Pottberg said the matching funds will come from three local foundations. A total of 39 groups have signed up this year, up from 34 one year ago. "We're at the Municipal Auditorium, and we'll there from seven in the morning until 5:30 p.m. In addition they can mail in their contribution to P.O. Box 411 along with a donor form that's online. We can receive those as long as they're postmarked and the checks are written by the Oct. 12th deadline." Donors can also go online to Geary Community Match Day to make a contribution.

Pottberg stated that the Bramlage Family Foundation, Central Charities Foundation and the Crosby Family Foundation contribute the matching money for the program. "They donate the $140,000 that we use for the matching funds."

Safety precautions will be in place at the event, including entering and exiting through separate doors, keeping the flow of traffic going in one direction, social distancing, asking all attendees to wear a mask, and sanitizing surfaces often throughout the day.

If a donor is unable to attend and does not want to mail or make an online gift remotely, another individual may bring a gift in for them. Checks should be dated 10/12/2021.

Online gifts can be made between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on the 12th.