Every September, organizations from around the region get together for a 33-hour nonstop sprint called Give4Marion, spearheaded and organized by the Ocala/Marion Community Foundation. It’s an initiative to raise funds and support for nonprofits of every feather – from medicine to technology, sports and arts and everything in between. The whole initiative provides a much-needed platform for online donations to local organizations, as well as an energizing jolt to community involvement.
“This is our fifth year,” she told host Valerie Dailey. “It started back during covid, when the world shut down; nonprofits and events got shut down. They really depended on those dollars, so online donations really became so important. With Give4Marion, that helps with those online donations and gives them that platform.”
“This is our fifth year. It started back during covid, when the world shut down; nonprofits and events got shut down. They really depended on those dollars, so online donations really became so important. With Give4Marion, that helps with those online donations and gives them that platform.”
Especially, she noted, for local arts and artisans, who suffered a major blow in state-funded budget cuts this year. “When you’re doing your budget as a nonprofit, you’re really depending on that,” Wheeler-Gerds said. “We really have to make up some groundwork to support our Arts Community.”
In addition to their fundraising efforts, Give4Marion offers a range of resources for nonprofits, including tech and strategy courses. Earlier in the year, Showcase invited some of the participants to come and talk to a group of our agents – many of whom started to volunteer as a result.
“I didn’t really know what it was, and then I got there,” she recalled, describing her reaction. “Everybody from the community was there. So I kind of got inspired, and I wanted to be more involved.”
“It’s Marion County giving back to Marion County. It’s such a generous community,” Podcast host Valerie Dailey remarked. “It’s very special that we have people who support so many different nonprofits.
The event kicks off September 17 with a luncheon at OBS, hosted by Ocala Bets, and finishes with a celebration party on September 18 at the Reilly Arts Center. In between those hours will be contests, competition, fundraising activities and prizes.
“It’s 33 hours of no sleep and crazy mess,” chuckles Wheeler-Gerds.
Volunteers are always welcome, and additional information or donations can be made at the official website: Give4Marion.org.
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