By Miranda Roberts
Big Rapids Pioneer
Posted here with permission
BIG RAPIDS – Match Day 2013 was a grand slam for local nonprofit organizations and endowment funds, with unofficial donations totaling $885,000.
In 2010, Match Day raised $253,000 for area nonprofits, followed by more than $425,000 in 2011. Last year, it brought in more than $638,000.
Combined with Tuesday’s estimated total, Match Day has generated more than $2.2 million for local nonprofits in its first four years.
“It’s because of the great people who live in Mecosta County that this event is so successful,” said Tim Zehr, Mecosta County Community Foundation president. “They are the ones who continue to dig deeper and deeper. They come forward in greater numbers every year and are making our community a better place to live.”
LEARNING TO GIVE: Cate Arroe, director of the Animal Rescue Coalition of Mecosta County, accepts a donation from Myah and Avery Chaput. The donation will be used to feed a dog at the shelter. (Pioneer photo/Miranda Roberts)
Match Day is an annual event hosted by the MCCF. It gives people an added incentive to give to local charitable organizations by matching donations up to 50 cents on the dollar. This year, the MCCF had $75,000 in its match pool.
More than 60 nonprofits and 60 endowments filled the convention floor at the Holiday Inn Hotel, decorating tables according to the fourth-annual event’s baseball theme and sharing with individuals, families and children the ways they give back to the community.
Jason Losinski brought his son, Jonathan, 6, to Match Day to let him choose which groups he wanted to support.
“This is about teaching him the right way to act in a small community at a young age,” Losinski said.
Anna Tuuri, 8, spent most of Match Day at the Angels of Action table, where she was the youngest volunteer.
“I like to help other kids,” she said, adding one of her other favorite nonprofits is Cran-Hill Ranch, where she likes to ride horses and climb the rock wall.
Elementary and high school students from Big Rapids Public Schools, Morley Stanwood Community Schools, Chippewa Hills School District and Crossroads Charter Academy were bused to the event to learn about each of the nonprofit groups.
“The kids have a scavenger hunt to encourage them to go around the room and learn about each of our nonprofit organizations,” said Stacy Chaput, MCCF second vice president.
Match Day 2013 also packed in fun giveaways for the nonprofits with several activities.
Foundation board members kicked off the event by throwing baseballs out to the nonprofit organizations. Manna Pantry got the special baseball, worth a $200 donation.
“It’s exciting,” said Isabel Kempton, coordinator of Manna Pantry. “This is one of my favorite days because you can just feel the excitement. This is one of the major sources of our operative funds for the year.”
Four endowed funds were created at Match Day, including the Sharada Baliga Fund for Big Rapids Public Schools Special Education, Angels of Action Endowment Fund, Riley MacKenzie Endowment Fund and the Rita and Jerry Conrad Scholarship, which benefits local graduates. Endowment funds require a minimum of $10,000.
“Every time we get a new endowment it’s a great thing,” said Scott Hill-Kennedy, MCCF past president. “It makes us feel good, because it says local people trust the foundation to manage the money correctly.”
Nancy Baldwin, of Big Rapids, said she looks forward to the event each year.
“It’s like Christmas, and we all get to be Santa’s elves,” Baldwin said. “It’s the beginning of the giving season. Every year, I come here and I find some nonprofits that I wasn’t aware of.”
The success of Match Day 2013 is due to the people of Mecosta County, Zehr said.
“We always hope,” Zehr said of the turnout at the annual event. “We always pray. We keep or fingers and toes crossed. Their generosity is appreciated. We are pleased they step up so very much for our community. We are surprised, pleased and reassured.
“Thank you to all of the people at the MCCF who work very hard to put this event on, donors who make the match pool possible, the community itself and the people who come out each year.”