Great Fish fundraising tops $1.1 million

The Whitefish Community Foundation on Wednesday distributed more than $1.1 million to 32 participating nonprofits in the first annual Great Fish Community Challenge.

The fundraiser began June 9 and ended Sept. 18, with local nonprofits receiving 1,391 contributions totaling $917,764. This was matched by the amount the community foundation contributed from the Circle of Giving and from individuals donating directly to the Great Fish Match Fund, bringing the match to a total of $209,096. The first $15,000 raised by each charity was eligible for the match.

The challenge culminated with the Great Fish 5K Color Run and Fair in downtown Whitefish on Sept. 12. More than 440 runners and walkers came out to participate in the event. They enjoyed interactive booths from the participating nonprofits showcasing their programs and telling their stories. The total amount raised by the nonprofits surpasses the initial goal of at least $300,000 for the first year.

“To raise more than $1.1 million in this first year event is tremendous to say the least,” board President David Dittman said. “The community really came out for this campaign.”

Donations were flooding into the foundation office both online and in the mail during the final two weeks of the campaign. The foundation processed all the gifts for the campaign and 100 percent of the designated donations went to the charities. All the costs of the campaign and the signature color run were covered by the Whitefish Community Foundation with the help of local sponsors.

“The campaign did exactly what we wanted it to do,” Whitefish Community Foundation Executive Director Linda Engh-Grady said. “It helped all sizes and types of nonprofits raise significant program money at no cost. Many of these participating nonprofits have little or no paid staff and are run by volunteers, some of which are working two jobs. These individuals are passionate about their organizations and the good work that they do to serve the community,” she said.