It was another record-setting year for Warren Gives.

There is still some final tallying to do, but the unofficial count of donations as of Friday was $732,229, according to Warren Gives Chairman Mark King.

That includes a pool of $60,000 in matching funds contributed by local foundations and organizations – Betts Foundation, Community Foundation of Warren County, Crossett, DeFrees Family Memorial Fund, Ellwood, McComas Charitable Fund, Northwest Charitable Foundation, Sara Sokolski Memorial Fund, Superior Tire and Rubber Corp., and United Refining Company. The matching dollars are split up in direct proportion to the donations. If any entity receives 5% of the donations, it receives 5% of the matching pool.

“All of the fees associated with Warren Gives are subsidized by the Community Foundation,” Community Foundation of Warren County Executive Director Rob Kaemmerer said. “That ensures 100% of these contributions will go to the participating charities. When you give a dollar, they get a dollar — plus a portion of the matching pool.”

Donation amounts ranged from the minimum of $10 to $30,000. Matching funds are only applied to the first $1,000 of any single donation.

Although the amounts continue to trend upwards, Kaemmerer said it was concerning that there were fewer individual donors this year.

“The number of donors was down from last year, with 1,720 donors making contributions versus 1,821 last year,” King said.

Those donors send their money from far and wide.

“Warren Gives reaches beyond our local community, with donations being received from 41 states, including Hawaii and Alaka,” Kaemmerer said.

Community Foundation Administrative Assistant Lou Ann Gadsby said all 101 participating organizations received donations.

The top five, in terms of amount received, were Miracle Mountain Ranch ($53,171), Struthers Library Theatre ($39,382), Chief Cornplanter Council BSA and Camp Olmsted ($36,555), Hospice of Warren County ($30,252), and Paws Along the River Humane Society ($28,707).

Hospice had the most individual donors at 286, Warren Public Library had 276, Struthers Library Theatre had 255, Paws received donations from 218, and Miracle Mountain had 179 donors.

“Warren Gives is truly a special day of giving,” King said. “Not only are we supported by our local residents but by former residents and people whose lives have been impacted by the various charities participating in Warren Gives.”

“We were very successful,” Kaemmerer said. “It’s amazing how this community steps up and gives.”

“These organizations need the money,” he said. “It makes you feel good about where we live.”

Some of the event’s success is due to the legwork done by the participants. “The organizations did an outstanding job of promoting Warren Gives with their members,” Kaemmerer said.

The final numbers aren’t in, and it’s possible that the matching pool could grow before all is said and done.

On Wednesday, volunteers Deb Anderson, Jackie Bonace, and Gary Sawtelle helped the Community Foundation staff field questions and guide donors through the process.

“These people were a great help,” Kaemmerer said. “And a special thanks to Mark King as the chairman of the event.”

“It’s a long day, but it’s a rewarding day,” Gadsby said.

“Any organizations that would like to be part of Warren Gives 2023 should contact the Community Foundation,” Kaemmerer said.