This article was contributed by the Community Foundation for San Benito County.
Very early in the morning on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, San Benito GIVES started to receive donations. The leaderboard immediately began to “light up” with generosity, and it was very exciting to watch the totals grow throughout the day. Donors from far and wide were ready to do their part to support 32 nonprofits in San Benito County.
The Community Foundation for San Benito County organized the event for a second year, and Gary Byrne, President and CEO, shared his thoughts about the day, “For me, it’s all about the unique donors, and the top three finishers did a phenomenal job reaching out to their constituents and beyond.”
Mighty Cause, an online platform, ran the 24-hour event, and by midnight at the end of the event, they had recorded $104,286 donated by 769 donors. A $50,000 grant from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, along with offline donations, brought the event total up to $165,934. Donations were still being received 24-hours later.
Patrons chose the organization that pulled at their heartstring or aligned with their giving philosophy and made their donations accordingly. We cannot emphasize our appreciation of their support enough. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! San Benito GIVES could not happen without YOU.
On Thursday May 17, the Foundation held a small celebration for participating nonprofits at the Garden Shoppe on Seventh Street where we revealed all the numbers and prizes. Here is a quick look at the prize winners; more information will be available on our website in the upcoming weeks.
Most Unique Donors
- San Benito Agricultural Land Trust $2,000 First Place
- Pet Friends Rescue & Adoption $1,000 Second Place
- Neighbors Helping Neighbors Aromas $500 Third Place
First and Last Donation
- Chamberlain’s Children Center $1,500
Power Hour (10:00 am to 11:00 am)
- Women’s Club of Hollister $600 First Place
- San Juan-Aromas Tennis and Fitness $400 Second Place
Happy Hour (5:00 pm to 6:00 pm)
- Chamberlain’s Children Center $600 First Place
- United Way of SBC $400 Second Place
Power Hour (8:00 pm to 9:00 pm)
- Youth Alliance $600 First Place
- Chamberlain’s Children Center $400 Second Place
Mystery Hour (2:30 pm to 3:30 pm)
- Friends of the San Benito Free Library $500
- Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation $500
- San Juan-Aromas Tennis & Fitness $500
- United Way of San Benito County $500