Get ready to give and celebrate

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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 for a day full of philanthropy, community spirit and Oktoberfest-style fun. With up to 100% of your donations matched by the Heartland Community Foundation, this is the perfect opportunity to maximize your impact while supporting your favorite local nonprofits.

During the 24-hour donation period, all donations made to participating nonprofits will be drawn from the $150,000 match pool, with $50,000 allocated to each county. These donations go directly to the non-profit Heartland Community Foundation, ensuring a stable financial future for the organization, and match dollars are available for immediate use, providing vital, immediate support.

With 44 participating organizations, there is a cause that speaks to everyone’s unique charitable passion. Whether you’re interested in education, health care, first responders, food insecurity and more, there is a nonprofit organization that supports 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 this event raise vital funds for nonprofit organizations, but it also adds a fun twist to the Oktoberfest season of gift-giving, celebrating the region’s cultural heritage. This is a chance to unite and make a difference.

This year’s celebration will take place at the following locations from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.:

· Ellis County: Strand Event Center, 1102 Main St., Hays

· Rooks County: Letha Events, 211 Mill St., Plainville

· Trego County: VFW, 400 N. Railroad, WaKeeney

Nonprofit organizations will share information with visitors, and attendees will be able to enjoy Oktoberfest food, drink 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 October 4 to 11:59 p.m. October 10. Online gifts will be eligible for matching credits throughout the week!

· In person: Donations can be dropped off at Give Fest events or at the Heartland Community Foundation office, 1200 Main St., Hays, on Oct. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

· Mail: Send donations to Heartland Community Foundation, PO Box 1673, Hays, KS 67601. Must be received by October 10.

· Out-of-town donors: Send your gift directly to the nonprofit and they will bring it back for you to count. Checks should be made payable to the Heartland Community Foundation with the name of the charity and donor form included in the memo.

One of the most convenient features of Give Fest is that donors can make a single donation and distribute it to one or more participating nonprofit organizations. 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 excitement surrounding Give Fest, follow the Heartland Community Foundation on Facebook or your favorite nonprofits’ social media pages! Many participating organizations will mark Give Fest with their own events and fundraisers, so contact them for up-to-date information on how to participate.

Participating nonprofit organizations include:

Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Ellis County

Scout Coronado District Council

Ellis County Cancer Council

CASA of the High Plains

Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas

Damar Social Foundation

Downtown Hays – Bricks

DSNWK Recreation Fund

Ellis County Historical Society

Ellis High School Booster Club

Hay feeding in St. Michael’s

Hays First Baptist Church

The first call for help

Technology at Fort Hays | North-Central Foundation

Hays ARC Park

Hays Area Children’s Center

Hays Beautification Fund

Hays Community Theatre

Hays Firefighters Fund

Hays High Athletics Hall of Fame

HaysMed Foundation

Hays Police Fund

Hays Public Library Foundation

Hays Recreation Commission

High Plains Mental Health Center

Humane Society of the High Plains

John’s campaign

OktoberfestHays

Options Domestic and sexual violence services

Plainville Fire Family Heritage Fund

Rooks County Health Care Foundation

Catholic Church and School of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Friends of Historic Fort Hays

STEM collection

Stockton Community Fund

Stockton Recreation Commission

The well – a center of hope

TMP-Marian School

Trees for beautiful hay

Trego County Improvement Fund

Trego County Historical Society

United Way of Ellis County

Foundation Fund $489

Youth Action Council (Ellis, Rooks and Trego Counties)

For more information and to participate, visit www.HeartlandGiveFest.org or email (email protected).