Hip! Hip! HOORAY!! The 10th annual Grow Green Match Day, hosted last Friday by Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, was Meadowlark Foundation’s best ever in terms of the amount of funds raised. According to the Leaderboard at growgreenmanhattan.com, 79 friends of Meadowlark contributed $66,295! In addition, $2,200 prompted by Match Day and our effort to enhance our Nursing Scholarship Program was sent directly to Meadowlark Foundation.

Our organization was one of 28 local non-profits receiving $20,000 or more, and so is eligible for the maximum match of $10,000. Add this amount to the contributions, and our extremely grand total is a whopping $78,495! Amazing! This total surpassed our previous high of $37,555 (contributions plus match), achieved in 2021.  

Manhattan business man and philanthropist Phil Howe again is providing matching funds through Howe Family Foundation.

The financial boost to 78 community not-for profit organizations is expected to top $1.3 million. According to a message on Tuesday from Marla Brandon, GMCF’s Vice President of Finance, she is in the process of verifying the gifts, with organizations receiving their final donation and matching totals once the reconciliation process is complete.

A contribution from a longtime business partner of Meadowlark’s provided a significant boost to this year’s total. BHS Construction’s motto is “Build Together,” and according to Patrick Schutter, company president, BHS seeks opportunities to build up an organization’s programming and projects as well as meet its construction needs. Currently, BHS employees can be seen on the Meadowlark campus as work has begun on The Monarch, a three-story apartment tower.

“Meadowlark and BHS have a very long history of working together, and we have just broken ground on our biggest project together to date,” Schutter said. “BHS wants to continue to support the causes and entities that our community needs, and we are thankful for our partnership.”

   GMCF has shared the following Match Day numbers:
   Total Dollars Donated: $1,337,927
   Total Number of Gifts: 5438
 

GMCF is allowing organizations to receive all donations for their immediate use, with the matching money going into the nonprofits’ endowed funds at the community foundation. On the donation form, 26 organizations or funds were listed under Basic Human Needs & Healthcare, including Meadowlark.

Prior to the event, Meadowlark Foundation announced donations would support scholarships for current Meadowlark employees who would like to further their education to become licensed practical nurses or registered nurses.

Now in its fourth year, Meadowlark’s scholarship program rewards the initiative of talented current employees, while, in the future, providing Meadowlark’s licensed care households with highly trained staff in what appears to be a perpetual nurses shortage. Employees who receive a scholarship agree to work at Meadowlark for at least two years following graduation.

Meadowlark’s 2022 giving total earned the second spot on the Grow Green Leaderboard. Shepherd’s Crossing again was the day’s first fund, attracting 275 gifts totaling $70,707.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Manhattan’s and Meadowlark’s green grow significantly! Your generosity is contributing to our short-term and future success.