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The Heartland Community Foundation is excited to host Give Fest 2024 on October 10, 2024, in Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties! Get ready to experience a day filled with philanthropy, community spirit, and Oktoberfest-themed fun. With up to 100% of donations matched by the Heartland Community Foundation, this is a powerful opportunity to maximize your impact while supporting your favorite local nonprofits.
During the 24-hour giving period, all donations made to participating nonprofits will be matched from a $150,000 match pool, with $50,000 designated for each county. These donations go directly to the nonprofit's endowed fund at the Heartland Community Foundation, ensuring a stable financial future for the organization, while the match dollars are available for immediate use, providing vital, immediate support.
With 44 participating organizations, there’s a cause that will speak to everyone’s unique charitable passion. Whether your interests lie in education or healthcare, first responders or food insecurity, and many more, there is a nonprofit that aligns with the causes that matter most to you.
Give Fest was created to mobilize the community to “give back” in a big way. Not only does the event raise essential funds for nonprofits, but it also brings a playful Oktoberfest twist to the giving season, celebrating the cultural heritage of the region. This is an opportunity to come together and make a difference.
This year's festivities will feature in-person events at the following locations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
· Ellis County: The Strand Event Center, 1102 Main St., Hays
· Rooks County: Letha’s Events, 211 Mill St., Plainville
· Trego County: VFW, 400 N. Railroad, WaKeeney
Nonprofits will share information with visitors, and attendees can enjoy Oktoberfest food, drinks, and entertainment while connecting with local organizations and learning more about the causes they can support.
How to Give:
· Online: Donate at www.HeartlandGiveFest.org from midnight on October 4 through 11:59 p.m. on October 10. Online gifts will be eligible for matching funds for a full week!
· In-Person: Drop off donations at the Give Fest events or the Heartland Community Foundation office, 1200 Main St., Hays, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on October 10.
· Mail: Send donations to Heartland Community Foundation, PO Box 1673, Hays, KS 67601. They must be received by October 10.
· Out-of-Town Donors: Send your gift directly to the nonprofit, and they will bring it to be counted. Checks should be made out to Heartland Community Foundation with the charity’s name in the memo, along with a donor form.
One of the most convenient features of Give Fest is that donors can make a single donation and designate it to one or more participating nonprofits. Your donation is 100% tax-deductible, and you can easily support multiple organizations at once with one simple gift.
To keep up with all the Give Fest excitement, follow the Heartland Community Foundation on Facebook or the social media pages of your favorite nonprofits! Many participating organizations will mark Give Fest with their own events and fundraisers, so check in with them for updates on how you can participate.
Participating Nonprofits Include:
Big Brothers Big Sisters Serving Ellis County
Boy Scouts Coronado Area Council
Cancer Council of Ellis County
CASA of the High Plains
Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas
Damar Community Foundation
Downtown Hays—The Bricks
DSNWK Recreation Fund
Ellis County Historical Society
Ellis High School Booster Club
Feeding Hays at St. Michael’s
First Baptist Church of Hays
First Call for Help
Fort Hays Tech | North Central Foundation
Hays ARC Park
Hays Area Children’s Center
Hays Beautification Fund
Hays Community Theatre
Hays Firefighters Endowment
Hays High Athletics Hall of Fame
HaysMed Foundation
Hays Police Endowment
Hays Public Library Foundation
Hays Recreation Commission
High Plains Mental Health Center
Humane Society of the High Plains
Jana’s Campaign
OktoberfestHays
Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services
Plainville Fire Family Legacy Fund
Rooks County Healthcare Foundation
Sacred Heart Catholic Church & School
Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays
STEM Harvest
Stockton Community Fund
Stockton Recreation Commission
The Well—Center for Hope
TMP-Marian School
Trees for a Beautiful Hays
Trego County Enhancement Fund
Trego County Historical Society
United Way of Ellis County
USD 489 Foundation Fund
Youth Action Council (Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties)
For more information and to get involved, visit www.HeartlandGiveFest.org or email [email protected].