As noon approached on April 29, thousands of faces were glued to their screens, mesmerized by the constant, swirling update of the ticker (and countdown clock) on the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s website for the 2020 Giving Challenge. I, too, was transfixed on this momentous display of our community’s generosity. Even with mere seconds left in the 24-hour online giving event, waves of gifts were propelling the grand total well beyond the six previous challenges.

With the amazing $10.9 million in gifts provided by the community, our team worked quickly to calculate the truly unique matching gifts provided by The Patterson Foundation. It took a few minutes to reveal The Patterson Foundation match of $7.5 million, but then the screen switched, and an explosion of digital balloons and confetti signaled the virtual end of the 2020 Giving Challenge. In that moment, an invisible thread of awe and heartfelt emotion connected all of us watching those final results via screens.  More than $18.4 million was raised by 59,000 donors to strengthen 686 local nonprofit organizations! Collectively, our hearts were full of the affirmation that the hope we’ve all held on to for so many weeks: our community’s future is in good hands.

Overcoming the uncertainty of our times, the 2020 Giving Challenge returned from noon to noon, April 28 and 29, to inspire a remarkable outpouring of support from donors across our region, standing as a resounding testament to our community’s inherent will to selflessly give to others – individuals, organizations, causes, our community – in need. How fortunate we were that the Giving Challenge is a virtual event so while staying at home, passionate donors and nonprofit partners were able to graciously rise to meet the moment with an unprecedented response of their own and set a new standard for generosity in our community.

The momentum behind this record-breaking support lives in our “Be The One” belief at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County that each of us has the potential to impact a person, a cause, a community. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this philosophy expanded to include “We Are One,” culminating in a collaborative video project with nearly 150 participating nonprofits in a display of unity, resiliency, and love for community.

Strengthening these efforts during the 2020 Giving Challenge was our longtime partner, The Patterson Foundation, who generously provided a 1:1 match for all unique donations, up to $100 per donor, per organization, which amounted to $7.5 million in additional funds for local nonprofits. With each Giving Challenge, The Patterson Foundation amplifies our community’s philanthropic spirit and encourages participation in charitable giving at all levels, for all generations.  

To say this is important would be an understatement. Now more than ever, these unrestricted gifts will provide a vital lifeline and much needed flexibility for our nonprofit partners as we move forward together to ensure our community not only survives but thrives for times to come. Looking towards the long road ahead, these crucial gifts will also provide nonprofits the means to stay connected and responsive to emerging needs, especially as they evolve during our path to recovery.  And ultimately the people served by our nonprofits are the true beneficiaries.  Whether it is more food for the hungry, opportunities for our arts entities to nourish our soul with creativity, or environmental groups to reconnect us with nature, all our nonprofit partners form a beautiful mosaic that makes our community so beloved. 

While our community has proven time and again that a lot can happen in just 24 hours, it also has shown us the importance of the countless relationships and partnerships that make us feel like we are part of something bigger than ourselves. Through a flurry of virtual events, Zoom calls, and donor shout outs on social media, donors and nonprofits were able to connect on a newfound – and often personal – level, sharing experiences and stories while opening their hearts to new possibilities.

I think this serves as a timely reminder for us all that the spirit of the 2020 Giving Challenge endures long after the ticker hits noon and totals are tallied. As long as we keep our hearts and minds open to all the opportunities we have, we will come together. Each of us can be the one to spread a ripple-effect of kindness throughout our region, no matter the gift, no matter where we may find ourselves.

Roxie Jerde is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.