By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
Cattaraugus Gives received a record-breaking amount of donations on Giving Tuesday — $359,898 in 24 hours.
That amount has increased since then with late donations to more than $367,000, and could still go higher, said Tyler Veno, Cattaraugus Gives coordinator for Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.
The top 10 organizations raised 206,376, all raising in excess of $10,000.
Topping the donations was the SPCA of Cattaraugus County, which received $45,816 in donations from 226 contributors. Second was another animal rescue group, Empire Animal Rescue Society, with $39,422 from 343 donors. The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation was third with $21,412 from 40 donors.
Cattaraugus Gives began in 2017 and has grown each year, said Veno. The group had nearly $30,000 in a prize pool that matched donations, providing additional incentives to donors.
With this year’s total, nonprofits in Cattaraugus County have now raised more than $2 million through the giving day since its inception in 2017, Veno said.
“This year showed, once again, how powerful our community can be when we come together,” said Veno “The incredible support we saw – from nonprofits mobilizing their networks to donors stepping up throughout the day – made this our most prosperous Cattaraugus Gives yet.”
Cattaraugus Gives is hosted annually by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation as a way to strengthen local nonprofits and inspire philanthropy through the collective impact of giving. Since its inception, the event has grown dramatically, becoming one of the region’s most anticipated days of charitable action.
“We are grateful for every donor, sponsor, partner and participating organization that helped make this year such a tremendous success,” said Veno. “Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected Cattaraugus County.”
There were 64 organizations that raised $1,000 or more during the day – that is also a record, said Veno.
“Cattaraugus Gives is a date we mark on our calendars each year, and it’s a program we have been so proud to present for years,” said CRCF Executive Director Kirk Windus.
“Most importantly, Cattaraugus Gives equips our nonprofits with the resources that they need to serve those in need in our community. $360,000 is a remarkable total of fundraising, but the true impact is something that you can’t put a price tag on,” Windus said.
