(1/2024) At last month’s Adams County Community Foundation Giving Spree, 2,500 residents donated $3.1 million dollars to support 100 local nonprofit organizations. Once again, Adams County distinguished itself in the world of local giving days, both in the dollars raised per capita and by hosting a live event for donors. The event brought back the festival atmosphere of earlier Giving Sprees, with thousands of attendees eager to browse booths representing 100 nonprofits and open their hearts and wallets.

For the fourth year, the Giving Spree invited donors to designate some or all of their gifts as "forever gifts," which are added to designated endowments at the Community Foundation. Once an endowment reaches $10,000, a percentage is granted to the nonprofit each year. Community Foundation CEO Ralph Serpe explained, "The Community Foundation can’t give enough in grants to support every nonprofit’s operation, but we can help nonprofits help themselves by growing endowments that will sustain them for decades to come."

Results of this year’s Giving Spree were announced at the "Big Reveal" on December 15. Once again, our local area benefitted from residents’ amazing generosity.

The Strawberry Hill Foundation, which builds nature stewardship by providing hands-on environmental education experiences, received $26,006 in Giving Spree donations, including a boost of $654 to its endowment.

The Land Conservancy of Adams County, a nonprofit land trust with the

mission of preserving the rural lands and character of Adams County, garnered a grand total of $114,102.75 including $10,939.49 to its endowment.

Adams County Scholarship Fund, which helps young people across Adams County reach their educational potential with awards for college and technical training, continued to build its endowment with $8,123 in forever gifts.

United Way of Adams County, which connects organizations with volunteers and resources while focusing on solving issues of food insecurity, poverty, and education, received $33,847 including $5,071 to its endowment.

Adams County Library System, an invaluable resource connecting people to opportunities that enrich their lives through programming, resources, and

one-on-one assistance, counted $84,572 in donations, with $8,414 going to its growing endowment.

This year, prizes were offered to those nonprofits that received the greatest percentage increase in forever gifts over 2022. Top honors and a $2,000 bonus went to Roots for Boots, which in 2022 garnered $25 in forever gifts but in 2023 saw a 40,700% increase to $10,200 for their endowment.

In this 13th year of the Giving Spree, the Community Foundation recognized the 13 nonprofits that raised the most overall during the Giving Spree. Leading the list, for the fourth year running, is the Adams County Historical Society, which raised $585,209.

Serpe said, "Raising $3.1 million in a community of 100,000 is an extraordinary achievement. We could not do it without the support of the Community Foundation board, our generous sponsors, and the enthusiasm of the 90 volunteers who make this event—who make this community—so remarkable."

A detailed list of 2023 Giving Spree results, sponsors and more may be found at ACCFGivingSpree.org.