Grow Green Match Day 2016

By Becky Fitzgerald on April 28, 2016

Meadowlark Hills Foundation’s endowed fund gets a big boost!


The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation’s expectation of surpassing last year’s giving total on Grow Green Match Day was realized several hours prior to the end of the day, with 47 gifts benefitting Meadowlark Hills Foundation.  According to the event website, GrowGreenManhattan.com, 1653 donations totaling $288,519.78 will support 46 organizations which have an endowment fund with GMCF. Local businessman and former Meadowlark Hills board member Phil Howe again agreed to provide matching funds, so each organization’s donation total will be increased by 50%. The fourth annual event was held on Earth Day, April 22, at Colony Square Atrium.

For Meadowlark Hills Foundation, the amount given last Friday and our number of donors jumped dramatically from 2015, our first year to participate. Our donations totaled $10,571, compared to $5,275 given by 21 supporters last year.  The matching fund total is expected to be about $5,286, but it was unknown at publishing time if all 47 donations qualified for matching funds. (Individual donations had to be at least $25 to receive the 50% match.)

In addition, donors who attended the event, or who had someone submit a donation on his or her behalf, registered to win an hourly cash prize to support the organization of the donor’s choice. Meadowlark Hills resident Carol Hoerman’s name was drawn at 5 p.m., so $100 was added to our donations. Our grand total is expected to be nearly $16,000!

The day of the event, participating organizations could track their progress on the Match Day website. With all of the donations counted, Meadowlark Hills Foundation placed 7th among the 46 organizations/funds in terms of the amount raised. (We placed 16th last year.)  Shepherd’s Crossing, an ecumenical ministry which offers budget counseling and financial support, topped all participating agencies in number of donors and amount raised at $27,238.50. Homecare and Hospice placed second with gifts totaling $23,173.96.

Leading up to Match Day, Grow Green Bingo, featuring celebrity callers and a variety of different prizes, was held on the first three Thursdays of April. Cash and checks collected at those sessions were held to be submitted at Colony Square last Friday. It’s estimated that nearly $1000 was given by bingo players, some of whom aren’t included in the donor total. Cash gifts less than $25 were combined and submitted by Marla Bugbee on behalf of the Meadowlark Hills Bingo Committee.

Thank you to everyone who made our green grow so significantly! Your generosity helps ensure our organization’s success. Please note that GMCF is sending gift receipts to Match Day donors.