Cattaraugus Gives Raises Over $270,000
Cattaraugus Gives Raises Over $270,000
Cattaraugus Gives program four-year total eclipses million-dollar mark
OLEAN - Nonprofits in Cattaraugus County together raised $270,364 in just 24 hours during this year’s Cattaraugus Gives program. Led by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, Cattaraugus Gives is a 24-hour online fundraising event that brings together area nonprofits of any service area, size or mission in friendly competition to celebrate the community’s spirit of giving.
That total represents some 2,215 gifts from 1,356 donors. Of the 88 nonprofits registered for this year’s Cattaraugus Gives program, 75 organizations received a donation, a new Cattaraugus Gives record. In just the last four years, the Cattaraugus Gives program has now raised over $1 million for nonprofits in Cattaraugus County.
This year, 36 of the participating organizations won additional prize money sponsored by CRCF and area businesses. 55 total prizes were distributed to organizations, together totaling $21,400 - another Cattaraugus Gives record.
This year’s top prize for most donors was won by Empire Animal Rescue Society, with the SPCA in Cattaraugus County winning the second place prize. A full list of prize winners is available at cattaraugusgives.org/prizes.
Some of this year’s top fundraisers include: Empire Animal Rescue Society ($23,771); YMCA of the Twin Tiers ($20,400); and Genesis House Shelter ($19,000). Cattaraugus Gives also had its highest-ever number of registered organizations in 2021, according to Kirk Windus, Cattaraugus Gives coordinator. “It was great to have 88 nonprofits register to participate in Cattaraugus Gives this year,” said Windus. “We hope that the number of organizations involved and active continue to grow in the years to come.”
While this year’s total was a decrease from 2021’s record year, it still surpassed the 2020 total. CRCF Executive Director Karen Niemic Buchheit said this year’s program was another success. “To raise over $270,000 for the nonprofits in your community in 24 hours can only be viewed as a remarkable success,” she said. “We are blown away by the generosity of our community every year, and this year is no different.”
Despite difficult economic conditions and a time of financial hardship for so many, community donors again stepped up to make a difference, she continued. “Our nonprofits work so hard, and it was so touching to see the community again step up to give and give to the organizations who provide the services that make life better for so many people in our region. Many of the donations were of $10 or $25, and I believe the cumulative impact of all those gifts together demonstrates the power of the giving spirit. No matter the size of the gift, generosity and giving will always have an impact.”
The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call 716-301-CRCF (2723), email foundation@cattfoundation.org, or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).