Centre Gives 2025 Raises Record-Breaking $2.8 Million for Centre County Nonprofits.
State College, PA – May 16, 2025 – For the fourteenth consecutive year, the Centre County community came together to raise funds benefiting local nonprofits through Centre Gives. This year, a record-breaking $2,836,970 via 17,837 total gifts in 36 hours as part of this annual online fundraiser.
“Once again, Centre County has shown what’s possible when a community comes together,” said Molly Kunkel, President and CEO of Centre Foundation. “This record-breaking year reflects the extraordinary generosity of our donors, the steadfast support of our sponsors, and the incredible spirit of collaboration among our nonprofits. Their collective commitment powers the work that strengthens the fabric of our community.”
Hundreds of people gathered on the evening of May 15 at Brass 16823 in Bellefonte for Centre Gives Fest, the annual grand finale of the 36-hour online fundraiser. The celebration, now in its second year at the venue, featured DJ music, local food, giving stations, and family-friendly activities hosted by participating nonprofits.
“We were thrilled to offer a half-million-dollar stretch pool this year, thanks to a generous matched contribution from the Hamer Foundation,” Kunkel added. “Their partnership helped amplify the impact of every gift and support the local nonprofits that make our community thrive.”
“Year after year, the Centre Gives celebration has become more than a fundraiser—it’s a unifying moment for our nonprofit community,” said Nathaniel Rasmussen, Centre Foundation’s Community Impact Director. “It’s incredible to see organizations connect, collaborate, and support one another.”
Thirty-nine local nonprofits joined the Centre Gives Fest fun. Each organization brought its own special flair by hosting an activity that tied its mission to the spirit of Centre Gives.
Katrina Armstrong of Hope’s Dream Rescue & Sanctuary, a small but dedicated animal rescue in Central Pennsylvania, shared with gratitude, “Centre Gives is truly our biggest fundraiser of the year! We put everything we have into those 36 hours. We love that it supports so many amazing nonprofits in our area, and for smaller organizations like ours, every donation goes even further. It makes a huge difference. Thanks to Centre Gives, we’ve been able to pay down vet bills and start fresh—giving us the ability to help even more animals in need.”
Since Centre Gives began in 2012, over $22.5 million has been invested in local nonprofits, supporting organizations in the areas of arts, animals, education, environment, human services, and more.
We’re grateful to the sponsors whose generosity and commitment to Centre County helped make Centre Gives 2025 a success, including: Hamer Foundation, Nestlerode & Loy Inc., FNB Wealth Management, King Financial Partners, Kish Bank, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., Volunteer Centre County, Henry Architecture & Design, LLC, Stuckey Automotive, Brass 16823, Hotel State College, LLC, Blink Advertising, McQuaide Blasko, Frost & Conn Insurance, The Atherton Centre Group at Morgan Stanley, The Hartman Group, Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County, CNB Bank, State College Police Department, Beer Belly’s Beverage, The UPS Store at Hamilton Square, and the William H. & Amy Sue Martin Fund at Centre Foundation.
Seven Mountains Media, Centre Daily Times, and Lamar generously supported Centre Foundation’s advertising efforts for Centre Gives.
During Centre Gives, gifts go further thanks to the $500,000 in stretch pools provided by the Centre Foundation and the Hamer Foundation, along with $40,000 in prizes.
“We’re incredibly honored to be part of Centre Gives,” said Averly Heverly, Prevention Educator at Centre Safe. “Every donation we receive goes directly toward supporting victims and survivors of violence, and their loved ones—whether it’s providing food, clothing, or emergency shelter, or helping our team deliver vital education and outreach programs. It’s powerful to be part of an event that not only uplifts our mission but also brings the entire nonprofit community together to share resources and build lasting connections.”
The following prizes were awarded to nonprofits during Centre Gives 2025:
Prizes of $500 were awarded to the top ten large and small organizations with the most unique donors for the entirety of Centre Gives.
Top 10 Large Organization Prize winners include: Centre County PAWS, Schlow Library Foundation, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, State College Food Bank, Pets Come First, ClearWater Conservancy, Out of the Cold: Centre County, Centre Safe (formerly Centre County Women’s Resource Center), Park Forest Preschool, Jana Marie Foundation
Top 10 Small Organization Prize winners include: Centre Wildlife Care, The Hundred Cat Foundation, Nittany Beagle Rescue, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Centre LGBT+, Penns Valley Conservation Association, State College Area Roller Derby, Dyslexia Reading Center, State College Music Boosters, and Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary
State College Area Rowing, The Fred H Carlin Community Vision Foundation, and Happy Valley Animals In Need
Power Hour Prizes of $500 were awarded to the large and small organizations with the most unique donors during designated hours.
Power Hour Prize winners for large organizations include:
Day 1: Schlow Library Foundation | Schlow Centre Region Library, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, Centre County Library & Historical Museum, Strawberry Fields, Inc., Housing Transitions, Park Forest Preschool, Pets Come First, Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania, Centre County PAWS, Discovery Space and The Rivet, State College Food Bank
Day 2: Schlow Library Foundation, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Centre County PAWS, Out of the Cold: Centre County, Pets Come First, ClearWater Conservancy, State College Food Bank, Park Forest Preschool
Power Hour Prize winners for small organizations include:
Day 1: State College Music Boosters, Bridge of Hope Centre County, Nittany Beagle Rescue, Centre LGBT+, Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania, Dyslexia Reading Center, Pixie Dust Wishes, State College Area Roller Derby, Centre Wildlife Care, Soroptimist International of Centre County, Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary
Day 2: Nittany Beagle Rescue, The Hundred Cat Foundation, State College Area Roller Derby, Burning Ma’aM, TriYoga of Central Pennsylvania, Friends of Bellefonte Little House, Centre Wildlife Care, Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra (PCO)
Success Series Prize winners are: Cen-Clear Child Services, Inc. and Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary
Early Bird Prize winners are: Happy Valley Animals In Need and Planned Parenthood Keystone
#IGiveWhereILive Prize winner is: Out of the Cold: Centre County
- Our $1,000 #IGiveWhereILive Prize was randomly awarded to one organization based on the participation of nonprofit supporters in a social media contest before the start of Centre Gives.
First Gift Prize winner is: Spotlight PA
- The organization that received the very first donation during Centre Gives 2025 was selected to win a $250 prize.
Centre Foundation Endowment Lucky Ticket winners are: Mountaintop Swimming Pool, Centre County Housing & Land Trust, Discovery Space and The Rivet and Centre County PAWS
- Two small and two large organizations that benefit from endowment funds at Centre Foundation were randomly selected to win $250 each.
Million Maker Prize winner is: State College Community Land Trust
- The organization that receives the donation that pushes Centre Gives past the $1 million mark in “total community impact” will win a $250 prize!
Two Million Maker Prize winners are: Rock Hill Cemetery at Linden Hall
- The organization that receives the donation that ushes Centre Gives past the $2 million mark in “total community impact” will win a $250 prize!
William H and Amy Sue Martin Donor-Advised Fund Lucky Ticket winners are: The Roland Curtin Foundation and Centre County Library & Historical Museum
- One small and one large organization that receives a grant from a Centre Foundation donor-advised fund during Centre Gives will be randomly selected to win $250 each.
Regional Lucky Ticket Prize winners are: One organization from each of Centre County’s five major regions was randomly selected to win a $250 prize.
- Bald Eagle: Howard Volunteer Fire Company
- Bellefonte: Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society
- Penns Valley: Penns Valley Education Foundation
- Philipsburg: Emily Whitehead Foundation
- State College: Jana Marie Foundation
Magic Minute winners are: The first 10 organizations that received a donation each received a prize of $100, limited to one Magic Minute prize per organization (the exact minute was between 3:33 pm and 3:33:59 pm on May 15).
Friends of Holt Memorial Library
State College Area Roller Derby
Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra (PCO)
Centre Gives Fest Prize winners are: Jana Marie Foundation (x2), Juniata Valley Council Boy Scouts, Pets Come First, and Sock & Buskin Theatre Company.
Centre Helps, Bellefonte Library Friends, Centre County PAWS, Under Angel Wings Family Center , Port Matilda EMS, The Ethel Beaver Fund
- At Centre Gives Fest, attendees submitted their favorite nonprofits for a chance to win. Six were randomly selected to receive $250—two winners every half hour from 5–8 p.m.
Last Chance Prizes: One Hand Foundation, Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, Nittany Valley Charter School, Hands On Therapeutic Riding Program, The Flutopia Initiative, Penns Valley Youth Center, Boalsburg Village Conservancy
- At the conclusion of Centre Gives, ten Last Chance Prizes of $250 each were awarded to organizations that had not previously won a prize.
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.
