05/15/2025
The Emporia Community Foundation (ECF) celebrates its 12th year hosting Match Day for the greater Emporia community. Today they named 35 organizations who have been invited to participate in the 2025 Match Day event on November 17th.
Match Day allows nonprofits a chance to showcase the work they are doing, and it provides an avenue for donors who want to support that work by giving a donation. In addition, matching dollars are available which helps make an even greater impact in our community.
In 2024, the Greater Emporia Area Match Day event awarded $769,253.21 to 35 participating organizations. Since inception, over $3.8 million has been disbursed to area nonprofits in the greater Emporia area. The charitable organizations invited to participated in the 2025 event are:
Arvonia Historic Preservation Society, The Baby Closet of Emporia, Kansas, Camp Alexander, Chase County Care and Compassion, Inc., Chase County Historical Society and Museum, Chase County Old School Development District, Choose How You Respond (Dr. Bryan Douglas), Emporia Area Habitat for Humanity, Emporia First Friday Art Walk, Inc., Emporia Municipal Band, Emporia Spanish Speakers, Energize Lebo, FEAS dba Flint Hills Animal Advocates, Food for Students, Friends of the Emporia Public Library, Friends of the Lyon County History Center, FUMC School Supply Project, Good Way Gardens, Hispanics of Today & Tomorrow (H.O.T.T.), Lyon County Crime Stoppers, Inc., Lyon County Honor Flight, Main Street Mommas, Matfield Green Works, Newman Regional Health Volunteers, NLC Youth Association, Pink Gravel Fund, Pioneer Bluffs, Project Playscape, Red Rocks-William Allen White Community Partnership, Inc., Southwick House, Street Cats Club, Strong City Preservation Alliance, Team Schnak Strong Fund, Vernon H. Buck Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7957, Wade Barrett Memorial Fund
Applications were submitted in March for the Match Day Committee’s consideration, chaired by ECF Board member Ruth Wheeler. Organizations must have an operating budget below $175,000, be in one of the seven counties served by the ECF and have a fund with the ECF. Applicants are evaluated as to their mission, budget, projects/programs, and the number of people served among other aspects.
The Match Day Committee expresses their gratitude to the following matching fund donors who have confirmed their support for the event this year and asks others to consider joining them by calling 620-342-9304: Clint Bowyer 79 Fund; ECF Fund for the Future; Emporia Masonic Lodge No. 12, A.F. & A.M., Gilpin Family Fund; WS & EC Jones Testamentary Trust, Bank of America, N.A. Trustee; Curtis W. McCreary Legacy Fund; Patterson Family Foundation; Preston Family Trust; Merry and Charles Rayl; Jane and Bernard Reeble Endowed Fund; the Trusler Foundation and the Waddell Family Charitable Fund.
To learn more about the Greater Emporia Area Match Day event call the Emporia Community Foundation at 620-342-9304 or visit www.emporiamatchday.com.