Centre Gives, Centre County’s 36-Hour Online Giving Event, Breaks Record and Surpasses $3 Million for Local Nonprofits!
Centre Gives made history this year, generating more than $3 million in support of local nonprofits during Centre Foundation’s annual 36-hour online giving event held May 6–7, 2026.
More than 235 nonprofits participated in this year’s event, representing causes across arts and culture, animals, education, environment, health and human services, youth services, housing, and more.
“This year’s Centre Gives was an incredible reflection of what’s possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose,” said David Lieb, President and CEO of Centre Foundation. “To see Centre County invest more than $3 million into local nonprofits in just 36 hours speaks volumes about the generosity of the people who live here, and their appreciation of the important role nonprofit organizations play in strengthening lives across our region every day.”
During Centre Gives, donations were amplified through a $500,000 stretch pool made possible through a partnership between The Hamer Foundation and Centre Foundation, along with more than $40,000 in sponsored prizes awarded throughout the event.
“Centre Gives continues to demonstrate the power of collective giving and community momentum,” said Nathaniel Rasmussen, Community Impact Director at Centre Foundation. “Beyond the dollars invested, this event helps strengthen connections between nonprofits, donors, businesses, volunteers, and communities across Centre County. It’s inspiring to watch people rally around organizations that make such a meaningful difference every day.”
Since its launch in 2012, Centre Gives has helped invest more than $25.5 million back into communities across Centre County.
Sponsors
Centre Foundation recognized the many businesses, organizations, and community partners whose support helped make it possible.
Stretch Pool Partners included The Hamer Foundation and Centre Foundation.
Community Partner support was provided by Scholar Hotels. Inspirational Partners included Franklin Park, Nestlerode & Loy Investment Advisors, and FNB Wealth Management.
Transformational Partners included King Financial Partners, Frost & Conn Insurance, Morgan Stanley, Nittany Settlement Company, Stuckey Automotive, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., Blink Advertising, McQuaide Blasko, Henry Architecture & Design, Bob and Irene Hicks, Hotel State College, Kish Bank, and the Hugh and Janyce Mose Fund.
Engaged Partners included Happy Valley Hannah, the William H. and Amy Sue Martin Fund, CNB Bank, State College Police Department, The Hartman Agency, Centre Daily Times, Philipsburg Journal, Seven Mountains Media, and CBICC.
Prizes
Pre-Event Prizes
Early Bird Prize — $250
Random drawing among eligible orgs that submit for eligibility review by March 1, 2026. Two winners (1 small, 1 large).
Winners: Bellefonte Soccer Association (BSA), Jana Marie Foundation
Success Series Prize — $250
Random drawing among orgs that attended a 2026 Success Series in-person workshop. Two winners (1 small, 1 large).
Winners: Mountaintop Swimming Pool, Pets Come First
Mission in Motion Prize — $250
Top-voted mission category from Centre Foundation–hosted events; one org from that category is randomly selected.
Winners: Nittany Greyhounds
#IGiveWhereILive Prize — $1,000
Post an “I Give Where I Live” photo on Facebook or Instagram naming a participating org April 14–May 5, 2026 (use #CentreGives2026 and #IGiveWhereILive) for a chance to win $1,000.
Winners: State College Community Land Trust
Power Hour Prizes
Note: Limited to one Power Hour prize per organization per day.
Kish Bank Kick-Off Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 8:00–9:00 am (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Kish Bank.
Winners: TriYoga of Central Pennsylvania, Schlow Library Foundation
Stuckey Automotive Drive Your Ambition Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 9:00–10:00 am (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Stuckey Automotive.
Winners: Bridge of Hope Centre County, State College Food Bank
FNB Wealth Management Give Local Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 10:00–11:00 am (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to FNB Wealth Management.
Winners: Nittany Beagle Rescue, Centre County Library & Historical Museum
Hotel State College Lunch Break Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 12:00–1:00 pm (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Hotel State College.
Winners: State College Music Boosters, Housing Transitions
New Contenders: Franklin Park Community of Possibilities Power Hour — $500
New Contenders (no Power Hour win in 2025) with most unique donors 2:00–3:00 pm (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Franklin Park.
Winners: Friends of Holt Memorial Library, Nittany Greyhounds
Atherton Centre Group at Morgan Stanley Good Afternoon Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 3:00–4:00 pm (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to The Atherton Centre Group at Morgan Stanley.
Winners: Dyslexia Reading Center, Park Forest Preschool
Scholar Hotels No Time for Napping Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 4:00–5:00 pm (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Scholar Hotels.
Winners: State College Area Roller Derby, ClearWater Conservancy
New Contenders: Nestlerode & Loy Alive at 5 Power Hour — $500
New Contenders (no Power Hour win in 2025) with most unique donors 5:00–6:00 pm (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Nestlerode & Loy.
Winners: Penns Valley Conservation Association, Jana Marie Foundation
Leonard S. Fiore Building Community Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 6:00–7:00 pm (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Leonard S. Fiore.
Winners: Centre Wildlife Care, Centre County PAWS
McQuaide Blasko Prime Time Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 7:00–8:00 pm (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to McQuaide Blasko.
Winners: Soroptimist International of Centre County (SICC), Centre Volunteers in Medicine
Hotel State College Celebrate Centre County Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 8:00–9:00 pm (May 6): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Hotel State College.
Winners: Pixie Dust Wishes, Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania
New Contenders: Nestlerode & Loy Good Morning Power Hour — $500
New Contenders (no Power Hour win in 2025) with most unique donors 9:00–10:00 am (May 7): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Nestlerode & Loy.
Winners: State College Area Rowing, State College Friends School
Nittany Settlement Coffee Break Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 10:00–11:00 am (May 7): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Nittany Settlement.
Winners: Nittany Beagle Rescue, Schlow Library Foundation
Franklin Park Inspiring Impact Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 12:00–1:00 pm (May 7): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Franklin Park.
Winners: State College Area Roller Derby, Centre County PAWS
Henry Architecture & Design Drawing Support Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 1:00–2:00 pm (May 7): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Henry Architecture & Design.
Winners: Orpheus Singers, Pets Come First
FNB Wealth Management Changemaker Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 4:00–5:00 pm (May 7): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to FNB Wealth Management.
Winners: TriYoga of Central Pennsylvania, ClearWater Conservancy
King Financial Partners Giving & Growing Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 5:00–6:00 pm (May 7): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to King Financial Partners.
Winners: Centre Kitchen Collective, Nittany Valley Charter School
Scholar Hotels Homestretch Power Hour — $500
Most unique donors 6:00–7:00 pm (May 7): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Scholar Hotels.
Winners: Centre Wildlife Care, Park Forest Preschool
New Contenders: Frost & Conn Insurance Grand Finale Power Hour — $500
New Contenders (no prize win May 6–7) with most unique donors 7:00–8:00 pm (May 7): two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to Frost & Conn Insurance.
Winners: Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center, Nittany Greyhounds
Milestone Prizes
First Gift Prize — $250
First donation of Centre Gives 2026. One winner.
Winners: Sock & Buskin Theatre Company
Centre Foundation Anniversary Prize (1981st gift) — $250
Org receiving the 1,981st gift during Centre Gives 2026. One winner.
Winners: Hands On Therapeutic Riding Program
Million Maker — $250
Donation that pushes Centre Gives past $1 million in total community impact. One winner, thanks to The Hartman Agency.
Winners: Meals on Wheels, State College Area
Two Million Maker — $250
Donation that pushes Centre Gives past $2 million in total community impact. One winner, thanks to The Hartman Agency.
Winners: Strawberry Fields, Inc.
Magic Minute – 3:33 pm — $100
3:33 pm (May 7): first 10 orgs to receive a donation during 3:33:00–3:33:59 pm each win $100 (one Magic Minute prize per org).
Winners: Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra (PCO), The Music Academy, The Quelmar Realm, Housing Transitions, State College Area Roller Derby, Friends of Bellefonte Little House, Centre Kitchen Collective, Soroptimist International of Centre County (SICC), Park Forest Preschool, Pixie Dust Wishes
Random Prizes
Centre Foundation Endowment Lucky Ticket sponsored by Bob and Irene Hicks — $250
11:30 am (May 6): random drawing for endowment-benefit orgs. Four winners (2 small, 2 large), thanks to Bob & Irene Hicks.
Winners: Rhoneymeade, Think We not Me Food Program, The State Theatre Inc, AIDS Resource
William H. and Amy Sue Martin Fund Lucky Ticket x2 ($250 each) — $250
11:30 am (May 7): random drawing for donor-advised fund grant recipients during Centre Gives. Two winners (1 small, 1 large), thanks to William H. and Amy Sue Martin.
Winners: Next Stage Theatre Company, Interfaith Human Services
Bald Eagle Regional Lucky Ticket sponsored by Blink Advertising — $250
2:00 pm (May 7): Bald Eagle–serving orgs with 10+ unique donors. Two winners, thanks to Blink Advertising.
Winners: St. Mark Lutheran Food Pantry, Snow Shoe EMS
Philipsburg Regional Lucky Ticket sponsored by CNB Bank — $250
2:00 pm (May 7): Philipsburg–serving orgs with 10+ unique donors. Two winners, thanks to CNB Bank.
Winners: Moshannon Creek Watershed Association, Serendipity Horse Rescue Ranch
Bellefonte Regional Lucky Ticket sponsored by Blink Advertising — $250
2:00 pm (May 7): Bellefonte–serving orgs with 10+ unique donors. Two winners, thanks to Blink Advertising.
Winners: Nittany Valley Symphony, The Print Factory
Penns Valley Regional Lucky Ticket sponsored by CBICC — $250
2:00 pm (May 7): Penns Valley–serving orgs with 10+ unique donors. Two winners, thanks to CBICC.
Winners: The HOPE Fund of Penns Valley, East Penns Valley Library
State College Regional Lucky Ticket sponsored by State College Police Department — $250
2:00 pm (May 7): State College–serving orgs with 10+ unique donors. Two winners, thanks to the State College Police Department.
Winners: One Hand Foundation, Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania
Last Chance Prize — $250
Orgs with 10+ unique donors that did not win a prize on May 6 or 7. Five winners (random drawing).
Winners: Bellefonte Historical & Cultural Association, Spotlight PA, Under Angel Wings Family Center, Doing Good with Wood , Taproot Kitchen, O-An Zendo Meditation Center, Centre Helps, People’s Choice Festival, FaithCentre, Centre Region Down Syndrome Society
Post-Event Prizes
Top 10 Overall — $500
Top 10 large and top 10 small orgs by unique donors across Centre Gives. 20 winners total.
Small Organizations
Centre County PAWS, Schlow Library Foundation, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, State College Food Bank, Pets Come First, Out of the Cold: Centre County, ClearWater Conservancy, Centre Safe (formerly Centre County Women’s Resource Center), Housing Transitions, Park Forest Preschool 9
Large Organizations
Centre Wildlife Care, Nittany Beagle Rescue, The Hundred Cat Foundation, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary, Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra (PCO), Soroptimist International of Centre County (SICC), State College Area Roller Derby, State College Music Boosters, Penns Valley Conservation Association
Good Neighbor Prize — $250
Donor who gives to the most orgs selects one org to receive an additional $250. One winner.
Winner: t.b.d.
For more information and to view the entire list of Centre Gives prizes awarded, visit www.CentreGives.org.
Centre Foundation fosters a culture of giving, supports and empowers nonprofits, and sparks positive community change.