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Golden Belt Community Foundation just completed its eleventh Giving Tuesday campaign, wrapping up and announcing the results during a Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee Thursday morning.
Giving Tuesday started as a day for anyone, anywhere to give, and it has grown into the biggest giving movement in the world. Giving Tuesday harnesses the generosity of millions of people around the world to support the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live. Celebrated on the Tuesday following U.S. Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday inspires millions of people across the globe to show up and give back to causes and issues that matter to them.
This year over 1,000 gifts were made to support 115 local charitable organizations and endowment funds raising a total of $533,217.00.
“This year marked GBCF’s 11th year to be a Giving Tuesday partner,” stated Mackenzie Mitchell, Development and Communications Coordinator, “and again this year we invited all charitable organizations in Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford counties to participate.”
Mitchell further explained that there were a handful of new organizations participating, and that each organization chose whether to get any gifts received as a grant back to their organization – or to use the gifts to build their endowment fund at GBCF. Many organizations will be receiving the gifts as grants to be put to immediate use supporting a wide variety of missions and causes.
“Today GBCF will be awarding over $500,000 in grants,” Mitchell explained.
The 2024 Top Ten Giving Tuesday organizations and funds raised are:
1- Kansas oil and gas $150,550
2- Prince of Peace $53,130
3- Holy Family $31,930
4- Stafford County Economic Development $13,100
5- Prairie Godmother Endowment $12,300
6- United Way of Central Kansas $10,335
7- Community Food Bank of Barton County $10,330
8- Meals on Wheels of Barton County $7,650
9- GPS Kids Club $7,410
10- Golden Belt Humane Society $7,220
“Thank you for your support, participation, and spreading the word about Giving Tuesday”, said Jason Murray. “Giving Tuesday couldn’t happen without you”.
The Most Generous City Award, which was calculated with gift totals by zip code per capita. Great Bend received the 2024 Most Generous City award, and the foundation will make a grant of $1,000 to an organization or project in that community.
In 2025 Giving Tuesday will be celebrated on December 2nd.
For questions about Golden Belt Community Foundation or Giving Tuesday, please contact the foundation at [email protected] or (620) 792-3000.