Partnership for Better Health and 31 Area Nonprofits Celebrate the Success of Match Madness!

Annual Campaign Total Tops $529,000

During one of the most difficult months in our nation’s history, the Partnership for Better Health’s 2020 Match Madness campaign exceeded expectations by attracting more individual donations than in any previous year.

Match Madness is a collaborative campaign that supports 31 area nonprofits in raising core operating and program funds that remain flexible to meet evolving needs. This year’s campaign theme was Caring through Generosity.

As of March 31, the campaign drew in $529,414, reflecting a 46 percent increase in total funds raised by local groups, with 1118 contributions.

“It was a month of incredible generosity,” said Becca Raley, Executive Director at Partnership for Better Health. “The campaign is driven by local community members who understand the vital work of our lean nonprofit sector. The novel coronavirus seemed to have a multiplying effect, with residents looking for ways to help compelling service organizations meet rapidly escalating needs.”

Now in its fifth year, the Match Madness Campaign focuses on small nonprofits with annual budgets of under $5 million. This year’s top five fundraisers were New Life Community, The Salvation Army, Maranatha, Project SHARE and Community CARES.

The Partnership’s matching stretch pool grew to $80,000, with the generous support of M&T Bank and The Josiah W. and Bessie H. Kline Foundation. For each organization, the first $1000 raised is matched dollar-for-dollar, meaning that even small gifts receive a large financial boost. The remaining matching funds are shared proportionately across the groups, with 100 percent of funds raised, plus the match, going back into the community.

 “We are especially appreciative of the generosity from our funding partners at M&T Bank and the Josiah W. and Bessie H. Kline Foundation,” said Ann Myers, Gift Planning Officer at Partnership for Better Health. “March 2020 was a month unlike most of us have ever experienced. Our community stepped up to support our local nonprofits during a difficult time. It was evident that caring through generosity became the way of life for so many, as we navigated unchartered waters.” Due to COVID-19, the Partnership for Better Health is celebrating the community’s success virtually, through a special video release: https://youtu.be/TOH8BOpw35E

Congratulations to the 31 Match Madness partners!

Amethyst Foundation

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region

Big Brothers Big Sisters of York and Adams Counties

Carlisle Arts Learning Center

Carlisle Area Healthcare Auxiliary

Camp Koala

Civic Club of Shippensburg

Community CARES

Cumberland Goodwill EMS

Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails Council

Cumberland Youth Cycling Development

Drew Michael Taylor Foundation

Employment Skills Center

Fresh Match (Farmers on the Square)

Friends of Spring Township

Hope Station

Katie’s Place of Shippensburg

LEAF Project

Maranatha-Carlisle

New Life Community Church

Perry County Council of the Arts

Perry County Literacy Council

Perry Housing Partnership

Perry Human Services

Project SHARE

Safe Harbour

Shippensburg Community Resource Coalition

Summer Program for Youth (SPY)

The Mental Wellness Awareness Association

The RASE Project

The Salvation Army