Project Love donates Christmas gifts to North East kids: Erie Gives 2022 aids local nonprofits

David Bruce, Erie Times-News
·2 min read

Project Love provides Christmas presents each year to more than 400 children in North East Borough and Township.

Though the nonprofit raises funds all year to ensure a happy holiday for less fortunate families, no event is as important to its bottom line as Erie Gives. The Erie Community Foundation's one-day annual fundraiser accounts for about 50% of Project Love's total budget, including around $8,000 in 2021.

"It plays such a huge role in our fundraising," said Tamme Erb, Project Love's chief executive director. "Especially during COVID, when it's been difficult to have any indoor events to raise money."

Erie Gives 2022, a 12-hour event sponsored by the foundation, is scheduled for Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. People are encouraged to donate a minimum of $25 to one of the more than 420 local nonprofits that are participating.

The foundation is adding $470,000 in prorated matching funds, an increase from $422,000 in 2021. It's the highest amount in the 12-year history of the fundraising event, said Erin Fessler, the foundation's vice president of marketing & community/government relations.

Erie Community Foundation employees Adam Bratton, left, and Alex Sienerth, right, join volunteer Lili Rankin, center, taking pledge calls during Erie Gives Day on Aug. 10, 2021, in Erie.
Erie Community Foundation employees Adam Bratton, left, and Alex Sienerth, right, join volunteer Lili Rankin, center, taking pledge calls during Erie Gives Day on Aug. 10, 2021, in Erie.

"We were able to increase our match this year thanks to donations from our sponsors," Fessler said. "It allows us to add a little for each nonprofit."

The 2021 match enabled the foundation to add 4% to each online donation and 6.5% to each check given. A total of more than $7 million was donated last year.

From 2021: Erie Gives raises record $7 million for nonprofits. Who are the top 10 recipients?

The North East Community Foundation will also provide a prorated match to Project Love and other nonprofits in its area, while the Corry and Union City community foundations will offer similar matches.

"We are able to purchase a lot of gifts with the funding we receive," Erb said. "Each kid receives a box of gifts with a retail value of about $500. It's enough to ensure a really nice Christmas."

How to donate on, before Erie Gives Day

  • Give online at eriegives.org. The minimum online donation is $25.

  • Call the foundation at (814) 454-0843. Use the same number to call the foundation if you want to donate from your individual retirement account or make a stock gift.

  • Send checks with a check contribution form — found on the website — to the Erie Community Foundation, 459 West 6th St., Erie, PA 16507. These must be received by Aug. 8.

  • Purchase a $1 or $5 acorn (the foundation's symbol) placard at any Country Fair convenience store.

More: Erie Community Foundation new CEO Karen Bilowith: 'This is the best job'

"Erie Gives is extremely important for the nonprofits in our community because it gives them access to donors who may not know about their mission or the work they do in the community," said Karen Bilowith, the foundation's chief executive officer.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Gives 2022: How Erie Community Foundation helps local nonprofits