Give Hastings Day and Go Big GIVE both set donation records

NEBRASKA — Central Nebraska non-profits are celebrating after posting two record-setting giving days.

Give Hastings Day and Go Big GIVE in Grand Island both set fundraising records during their 24-hour events yesterday. The Hastings iteration collected more than $867,629 and offered a public headquarters for the first time.

“It was just time to add some celebration, some fun back into Give Day where we can celebrate the good work of non-profits and we can celebrate philanthropy in the community,” Hastings Community Foundation Executive Director Dan Peters said.

In the Grand Island Area, Go Big GIVE hauled in $1,459,596. More than 5,200 individual donations were made to a total of 152 organizations.

“I think it shows that everyone is very generous and that we’re all changemakers," Heartland United Way Public Relations Specialist Allie Remm said. "We want to help people, even if it’s an animal with four paws or a little human being learning to walk.”

The giving took place largely online and offered donors a chance to give to multiple organizations with one transaction.

The previous Give Hastings Day record was $668,862 set last year. The top five earners of Give Hastings Day were Hastings College ($57,853), Prairie Loft Center ($56,752), Start Over Rover ($42,662), Hastings Catholic Schools Foundation ($39,636), and the YMCA of Hastings ($37,216).

Go Big GIVE raised about $1.3 million last year. This year’s top recipients were the Edgerton Explorit Center ($110,222), New Hope Christian School Building Fund ($107,193), Nebraska Christian Schools Foundation ($100,478), Grand Island Central Catholic Development Foundation ($87,665) and the Cairo Community Foundation ($53,543).