Seward County Gives Week donations total nearly $290,000

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Donors showed up big for the second annual Seward County Gives campaign, raising almost $290,000 for 38 organizations during five days of giving.

“Everybody is truly grateful,” said Misty Ahmic, one of the organizers of the event.

At the close of giving at midnight on Friday, May 5, the online total showed $197,875.53. Ahmic said Sunday morning organizers still had a pile of donations to enter, which they expected to be finalized by Wednesday.

As of Sunday, 1,252 individual donors contributed $254,081, and sponsors matched an additional $31,000.

“We had more donors this year than there were last year. Some organizations went out and got additional matches for themselves,” Ahmic said.

Last year, the total hit $162,181 distributed to 24 organizations. With more groups involved this year, Ahmic said community outreach soared.

“The organizations themselves took the lead on putting together their own events,” she said. “In Utica, the ice cream social was phenomenal. Four organizations all came together.”

Those included the Utica Volunteer Fire Department, Utica Foundation, Utica Parks and Pool and Utica Ball Organization.

Ahmic said she was impressed by their creativity. Attendees entered the event, got their ice cream, then circled the room for toppings – the fire department offered candy toppings, the Foundation made ice cream floats, Parks and Pool had sprinkles and caramel, and UBO had hard shell toppings and nuts.

“It was a great way to move people around the room to learn about what each organization was raising money for,” Ahmic said.

Other organizations held their own events throughout the week all over the county, and 30 of the 38 participated in Lunch on the Lawn, a showcase of all the fundraising projects, held May 3 around the courthouse in Seward.

Ahmic said the showcase drew more than just donations. It was a way to get people interested in the organizations.

She said the three participating Kiwanis clubs all had new members want to join, and Southeast Nebraska CASA had three people want to become advocates.

“These were opportunities to get people to do that,” she said.

During Lunch on the Lawn and an end-of-the-week celebration, sponsors offered games for the organizations to play to earn extra match dollars, like a version of Yahtzee and giant Pong.

“I continue to be inspired and grateful for the heart everybody puts into this,” Ahmic said. “These organizations are part of the reason why Seward County is so special. That’s why this week was so amazing.”

An information session will be held in January or February for organizations wishing to participate in next year’s Seward County Gives campaign. Applications will be due March 1.

This year’s fundraising totals for each organization may be viewed at sewardcountygives.com.