MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Nonprofits in the 352 certainly profited from Give4Marion. The final total announced at Wednesday night’s celebration was $2,957,809 in 33 hours.
One of the benefactors, The Rock, was thrilled to be able to save its wrestling program. “What a great community to pull together,” said Troy Weaver, executive director for The Rock. “One hundred percent amazing.”
Update, 9.15.24, at 5:55 a.m.: The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County has announced the latest numbers in its Give4Marion event. Nearly $1,177,800 has been raised for local charities since Tuesday morning at 10. The event continues today, culminating with a celebration after the final numbers come in at 7 p.m. Keep in mind that number does not reflect the million dollars already raised before the event started.
Update, 9.17.2024 at 12:30 p.m.: The Community Foundation of Ocala/Marion County announced around noon on Tuesday, just two hours after the kickoff of Give4Marion, that $500,000 has been raised. This is in addition to over a million dollars raised before the event began.
Original story, 9.17.24 at 5:48 a.m.: Each year, the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County (CFOMC) organizes a one-day event called Give4Marion to support local nonprofits.
The CFOMC is a charitable group that helps tackle important local issues by offering support and resources to nonprofits. It runs several programs, including the annual Give4Marion event, which aims to raise money and awareness for local nonprofits. This event is not just a way to gather funds; it also helps nonprofits connect with donors and each other, fostering community relationships.
“It got started back in 2011,” says Director of Strategic Engagement for the CFOMC Ashley Gerds. “Frank Hennessey of Hennessey Arabians moved here to Ocala a few years prior to that with his wife, Carol.” Gerds mentions that they asked about the local community foundation, but it wasn’t available then. She adds that the Hennessey’s were familiar with their community foundation back in Michigan.
RELATED: Marion County nonprofit calls on community to take action for survivors of sexual assault
The Hennesseys went to the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP) and spoke with Jaye Baille, who was with the CEP at the time, about starting a community foundation in Marion County.
To identify community issues, the foundation works with a diverse range of stakeholders, including nonprofit leaders, community members, and businesses. Working together like this helps everyone get a better idea of what the community really needs and the problems they face. The nonprofit Business Council of the foundation plays an important role in this by sharing knowledge and skills from different areas, notes Gerds, making sure that the help given is useful and makes a real difference.
The does more for nonprofits than just provide money. With its nonprofit Excellence Academy, the foundation runs educational programs that cover important topics like finance, marketing, and governance. This training helps nonprofits gain the skills and knowledge they need to run smoothly and effectively, which ultimately improves their ability to help the community.
ey had to stop. Our world shut down, but our nonprofit services were more, and they were needed, and we had to figure out a way. And Lauren and the steering committee figured out that way, and Give4Marion was born.”
Give4Marion uses social media to help nonprofits reach more people. The event takes place on the GiveGab/Bonterra Tech platform, which makes online donations easy and lets donors to connect with the nonprofits. This online approach is really important right now because it helps more people participate and back local projects.
The event includes social challenges like the “Show Us Your Horse” challenge.
“We live in the horse capital of the world and so any nonprofit, any donor, any community member can get involved in any of these social prizes,” Gerds shares. “So, take a picture with a horse. Not all of us own horses, so it can be a stuffed animal horse, it can be a hobby horse, it can be one of our painted horses.”
This aspect encourages community members to interact with nonprofits in a fun and creative manner. These challenges aim to boost visibility and create a sense of togetherness among the organizations involved, showcasing the teamwork within the nonprofit sector in Ocala/Marion County.
Donations during the 33-hour giving event receive extra support from “Power Hours” and “Matching Moments.” In these times, sponsors match certain donations, boosting the effect of each gift. This competitive aspect is designed to encourage nonprofits to engage with their supporters and helps create a spirit of giving in the community.
Organizations that want to join Give4Marion need to be registered as 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the Ocala/Marion County area. The foundation offers help and advice all year long to assist these organizations in getting ready for the event. This support includes workshops on strategy, marketing, and how to use the GiveGab/Bonterra Tech platform effectively.
The event begins at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and ends Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.
After the event, you can still make donations, and the foundation is here to support nonprofits in improving their efforts and becoming more effective. Director of Grants Administration for Cheri Villa plays a key role in this support, assisting nonprofits with the challenging process of grant writing and finding funding.
Those interested in volunteering with the can get in touch through the foundation’s website or by emailing Ashley@ocalafoundation.org or Lauren@ocalafoundation.org. You can also call 352.622.5020.