Five local essential needs nonprofits raised a record $236,900 during their annual 12 Days of Giving campaign in December.
The campaign includes almost $65,000 of matching funds raised by each nonprofit and at the United for San Benito gala on Dec. 6. The monies are shared equally among the agencies.
Each agency also raised:
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for San Benito County: $16,104
- Community FoodBank of San Benito: $62,207
- Emmaus House: $47,377
- Sun Street Centers: $11,263
- YMCA of San Benito County: $35,000
The services provided by the nonprofits range from advocacy for children in the court system and emergency shelter for women and children experiencing domestic violence, to drug and alcohol addiction recovery for women.
“This funding allows us to continue,” CASA Executive Director Jessica Ravetz said. “It’s that simple. This is the difference between us being able to continue in San Benito County and closing our doors.”
United for San Benito Executive Director Vicki Fortino said the funds are especially important during the holiday season.
“They need the gifts, the Christmas dinner, clothes, pajamas and stuff like that,” Fortino said.
FoodBank Executive Director Antonio Mendoza, Emmaus House Executive Director Patrice Kuerschner and Ravetz said the community’s support is increasingly important this year for their organizations because of the loss of federal funds.
“It makes a huge difference that the community and United for San Benito and Graniterock came out to support us like this,” Mendoza said.
YMCA Senior Healthy Living Director Salina Chacon said the funds allow the organization to provide financial assistance so that residents “are able to do any of our programs and services without worrying about the ability to pay.”
The leaders of the nonprofits also recognized Graniterock for driving and pushing the United for San Benito Gala which raised some of the matching funds.
“The’ve always been a sponsor but they just came through really big this year,” Fortino said. “They just created an atmosphere that was really exciting because they started the bidding so high at $7,500.”
She said the Gala is a live auction in which bidding started at $7,500 on auction items and decreased from there. When community members or organizations heard the level they wanted to support, they raised their paddle.
The fundraiser has taken place since 2011 and brought $1.97 million to various nonprofits over the years.
Fortino said local nonprofits not only need financial support from the community but also volunteers and board members.
“We’re always looking for participation,” she said.
