Posted on May 1, 2015 by Robert Pore
Grand Island, Hall, Merrick, Hamilton and Howard counties were abuzz on Friday as organizers hoped to generate a generous giving of $300,000 or more during the one-day Go Big Give campaign, which benefits 83 organizations.
Before the rush of the crowds Friday morning, organizers had set up their headquarters at the Conestoga Mall, but there were many events happening throughout Grand Island and the four counties.
Go Big Give is a partnership between the Heartland United Way and Grand Island Community Foundation. Even before the halfway mark of the 24-hour Go Big Give, the campaign had already raised half of its $300,000 goal. Before it even turned dark inside, the effort had surpassed the goal and the giving continued.
Community Foundation Chief Executive Officer Tammy Morris, helping out at Go Big Give headquarters on Friday morning, said she and Heartland United Way President Karen Rathke would be busy all day shuffling from one Go Big Give event to another. Friday afternoon, representatives of nearly half of the 83 organizations were at the Conestoga Mall to urge on supporters.
At 9:30 a.m., Morris said, the campaign had already reached $115,000. That quick start was far more than organizers anticipated, especially with Go Big Give in its second year. Last year, it raised $252,000 over 24 hours for 62 organizations.
This year, organizers allowed donors to go online early to give their favorite organizations an advance gift. That generated $70,000 before the official start.
“Last year was everybody’s first year, so it was trying to figure out what we were doing and how it all works,” Morris said. “This year, the organizations were all excited, and they hit the ground running. They have been very diligent about reaching out to their donors.”
Morris said the Grand Island Community Foundation and Heartland United Way spent the whole year planning to make Go Big Give even more of a success this year.
She said Go Big Give is a “natural tie-in” to the work the foundation does year round.
“The mission of the Grand Island Community Foundation is to enhance philanthropy and to enhance the quality of life in our community,” Morris said. “Go Big Give does both of those things as not only are we enhancing philanthropy, but it really means today is not just about dollars raised, but it is about quality of life.”
She said community arts, veterans and all the nonprofit organizations throughout all four counties will be strengthened because of Go Big Give.
The success of Go Big Give would not happen without its volunteers and all the hours they put in, Morris said.
Making a donation at the Conestoga Mall Friday morning was Gerry Koepke of Grand Island.
“I gave last year and realized it was a good venue to give,” Koepke said.
Koepke, like many donors, split her donation among a number of the organizations participating in Go Big Give.
“There are so many organizations within our area that are deserving of our assistance,” she said.
At Central Nebraska Community Services, 2525 W. Old Lincoln Highway, staff and volunteers set up a Lemonade Stand Against Homelessness. People stopping for a glass of lemonade could receive a tour of the office and learn how CNCS helps people who are homeless, near homeless or in crisis, as well as homeless veterans.
Giving to CNCS through Go Big Give supplements the funding the organization already receives to help people with needs such as rent, utilities and basic supplies, said Heather Cline Ford, family outreach program coordinator.
Last year, Cline Ford said, CNCS received $1,000 from Go Big Give.
At 10:51 a.m., Rathke checked her cellphone to learn that Go Big Give had already raised $139,000 from 1,132 donors. Rathke, who was at Central Nebraska Community Services, said, “That is pretty exciting.”
Stopping for some lemonade was Verna Haberman, Grand Island Public Schools outreach coordinator.
“I stopped because I take a stand against homelessness,” Haberman said.
“All of these organizations and agencies work together for the same clientele to make their lives better,” she said. “I work with homeless kids, so any time any organizations like Central Nebraska Community Services get money, it helps the families that I work with, and it makes my community better.”
When taking a stand against homelessness, Rathke said, “you need the dollars, you need the knowledge that this is an issue, and you need the volunteers to take the time to make a difference as well.”
“Go Big Give is not only about raising funds for these organizations,” she said, “but about making awareness of what the issues are and helping people understand that their gift and their time can make a big difference.”
Rathke said it’s fun to generate the hype and excitement about Go Big Give, but “we have to remember the reason we are doing this is that we do have people who are homeless, we do have people who are hungry, we do have people who are abused, we do have animals that are neglected, and we have parks and trails that need to be updated.”
In the parking lot at First National Bank on Friday, the GRACE Foundation was hosting its Beat Cancer Barbecue. This is the first year the GRACE Foundation participated in Go Big Give, said Lisa Willman, GRACE Foundation co-founder.
“This not only means a lot to the GRACE Foundation, but also to the people we help,” Willman said.
Volunteers from First National Bank were cooking up hot dogs, which they gave to the public along with chips and a drink. They also provided the servers and the tents for the cookout.
“We are very, very grateful,” Willman said.
“This is huge,” she said about Go Big Give. “It really brings awareness to the whole community and the area about what great organizations are out there that not only need money, but need volunteers.”
Many of the people who have been helped by the GRACE Foundation showed up at the barbecue to tell their stories and to testify about the work the GRACE Foundation does.
Willman hopes to reach out to those who are battling cancer through Go Big Give, but also to recruit volunteers for the GRACE Foundation.
“It really gives us a whole new audience to get in front of, and we are ecstatic to be involved,” she said.
Giving continued steadily through the day and it was between 7 and 8 p.m. that the effort surpassed its goal. At 10 p.m., with two hours left to give, the total was $425,739.28, from 2,638 gifts, and counting.