Close to three quarters of a million dollars! That’s how much money was raised by 125 Kern County nonprofits through Give Big Kern, hosted by Kern Community Foundation. Observed as “One Day to Celebrate the Giving Spirit of Kern County!” on the first Tuesday in May, which this year was May 5, 2020’s Give Big Kern turned out to be our most successful Online Day of Giving yet, despite the COVID-19 crisis.
An analysis of this year’s accomplishments and areas for improvement;
The reasons for Give Big Kern’s continued success even in the face of our current era’s most overwhelming health and financial challenge;
A listing of competitive and opportunity drawing prize winners;
An acknowledgment of our sponsors;
Important lessons learned that will help us plan for Give Big Kern 2021;
A very telling snapshot of the aspirations and concerns of Give Big Kern’s participating nonprofits, with a call to action for more members of our community to get involved in helping to meet their needs;
And more!
Please share this report with others–especially nonprofits, to encourage any that have not yet participated in Give Big Kern to consider doing so next year.
Also, save the date for next year’s Give Big Kern: May 4, 2021!
And as our Mascot, Billy the Give Big Goat, likes to say, “Happy r-e-e-e-a-a-d-i-n-g!”
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC, fdic.gov) is an independent agency created by the U.S. Congress to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation’s financial system, including by insuring deposits made to banks. Its website boasts that “Since 1933, no depositor has lost a penny of FDIC-insured funds.”
Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, the FDIC has been working to develop resources that will make it easier for consumers without a bank account to find a bank where they can open an account online from a computer or mobile device without having to go to into a branch. They developed a new, easy-to-remember web page, fdic.gov/coronavirus, that was launched last week (available only in English at this time), dedicated to helping unbanked or underbanked consumers access the information they need to receive an economic impact payment (stimulus check) electronically.
Unbanked/underbanked consumers can do the following:
Follow the link above or click on the FDIC logo at right to watch a short video on how to open a bank account online.
Click on this link to access the Bank On Coalition’s list of banks that offer remote account opening with a $0 balance in anticipation of the Treasury deposit. The FDIC Coronavirus web page also links to the American Bankers Association’s list of banks that offer remote account opening all across the country (developed in response to the COVID-19 situation), along with additional resources for consumers. Changes to this page and information contained therein might change as the current crisis evolves.
Once someone opens their account, they can then provide the information to the Internal Revenue Service to receive payments electronically through the IRS portal.
The FDIC website has information available in Spanish, but it appears to be general in nature, not necessarily focused on COVID-19. Click here to view. The IRS portal has some information in Spanish about COVID-19 economic impact payments and the link to the English-language fdic/gov/coronavirus page. Click here to view.
Local Bakersfield weekly newspaper The Bakersfield News Observer is a returning sponsor of Give Big Kern this year. They really went all out for us again with a fantastic story series highlighting three different agencies in each of the three issues leading up to Give Big Kern Day.
Click on this link or the image at left to read and download the entire series in PDF format.
Want to know how the value of the Observer’s in-kind contribution, which includes layout, printing, posting online, linking through social media, and insertion of the Observer Interactive App capability that adds another layer of web linkage and visibility to each story on the printed page? Nothing short of $11,000! This is a huge to Kern Community Foundation and the Give Big Kern nonprofits, especially during these difficult COVID-19 times.
Thanks, Bakersfield News Observer, for your wonderful support of local charities!
El Popular News, Kern County’s Spanish-language weekly, has been a steady Give Big Kern Sponsor over the years, but this year they really stepped up B-i-i-i-g by supporting our nonprofits with three full-page packages highlighting a total of nine charities and Kern Community Foundation. These were all contributed articles that the agencies wrote themselves and El Popular published for us. What would it have cost us to run three full-page ads? $5,340! That is the value of El Popular’s generous in-kind support this year. Thank you, Amigos!
El Popular has devoted a full page to highlighting these stories, thereby helping Kern Community Foundation and our partners to “Grow Philanthropy” among Kern’s Spanish-speaking community.
Click on this link or on the image to access the current issue of El Popular. You will find Give Big Kern participants’ stories on Page 3. Read B-i-i-i-g! Give B-i-i-i-g!
El Popular has proven itself once again as a generous sponsor by devoting a full page to highlighting these stories, thereby helping Kern Community Foundation and our partners to “Grow Philanthropy” among Kern’s Spanish-speaking community.
Frank Ramirez, Executive Director of Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation expressed his gratitude for this opportunity in an e-mail to both El Popular and the Foundation:
“Many of our scholarship winners and applicants come from a household where Spanish is their primary language. I’m sure they will be pleased to see this article in Spanish. We are also trying to connect with more donors from the Spanish speaking community since one of our largest donors for our 2020-21 scholarship program is the Consulate of Mexico (Fresno Office). They will be pleased to see this article.
“In addition,” he continued, “I would also like to thank you for working with Kern Community Foundation on informing the Spanish-speaking community about Give Big Kern. Kern Community Foundation is helping so many nonprofits like us expand their fundraising efforts. They are a great organization that is helping nonprofits in Kern County grow.”
Click on this link or on the image to access the current issue of El Popular. You will find Give Big Kern participants’ stories on Page 3. Read B-i-i-i-g! Give B-i-i-i-g!
Unite Us (uniteus.com), the Unifying Infrastructure Between Healthcare Entities and Community-Based Organizations, seeks to hire a Community Engagement Manager to be based in either the Bakersfield or Fresno area. Details and an online application form may be found here.
Food for the Frontline Kern County is a community effort to raise funds to support local restaurants and emergency room staff impacted by COVID-19.
Working with Kern Community Foundation, Food for the Frontline will provide meals prepared by local restaurants for Kern County emergency room staff. The meals will be purchased and delivered with the support of community donations. Every dollar raised will feed brave medical personnel who are on the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus, while providing assistance to small businesses and their employees impacted by the statewide quarantine.
Our goal is to provide as many meals as possible to staff members at county hospitals. Each meal will cost $20.00. All donations will go to the purchase of food and materials from local restaurants. These meals will be given directly to Kern County frontline medical staff. This will be an ongoing effort and we plan to make our first delivery on Friday, April 10th.
If you represent a local restaurant or catering company and want to participate, please email us at frontlinekern@gmail.com. Together, we can make a difference!
Philanthropy never sleeps – especially in times of crisis. Kern Community Foundation is responding quickly to COVID-19 relief for our local nonprofit community.
Close to three quarters of a million dollars! That’s how much money was raised by 125 Kern County nonprofits through Give Big Kern, hosted by Kern Community Foundation. Observed as “One Day to Celebrate the Giving Spirit of Kern County!” on the first Tuesday in May, which this year was May 5, 2020’s Give Big Kern turned out to be our most successful Online Day of Giving yet, despite the COVID-19 crisis.
ocal restaurants. These meals will be given directly to Kern County frontline medical staff. This will be an ongoing effort and we plan to make our first delivery on Friday, April 10th.
Philanthropy never sleeps – especially in times of crisis. Kern Community Foundation is responding quickly to COVID-19 relief for our local nonprofit community.
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