When you hear the word philanthropist, what kind of person comes to mind?
The mental snapshot I get is of someone ultra-wealthy. Well-dressed. City-dwelling. Someone who buys a $500 ticket for a benefit gala and bids on exclusive auction items like “10 Days in a Luxurious Tuscan Villa!”.
I’d venture to guess that when most people think of philanthropy, they imagine hospital wings and household names like Mackenzie Scott and Warren Buffett and gifts in the tens of thousands (or millions) of dollars.
And…
The truth is, I’m a philanthropist. And you might be too.
Since 2012, Centre Gives has transformed thousands of locals into “$10 Philanthropists”.
Every year, Centre Gives, Centre Foundation’s 36-hour online giving event brings in millions of dollars for hundreds of local non-profits. Not because a handful of wealthy people make huge donations, but because thousands of locals donate ten bucks.
This event is our yearly reminder that philanthropy is less about how much we give and more about how great it feels to be part of a community overflowing with neighbors who do give.
Because of events like Centre Gives that redefine who gets to be a philanthropist and celebrate contributions of all kinds, we live in an area where generosity is normal and feels collective. Talk to anyone who’s tried to start something here. We want to see each other succeed. We want to connect you with that person we know who can help.
And we want to come together for 36-hours each May, give $10 or $20 to our favorite non-profits, and walk around our town knowing we’re part of the vast network of neighbors who are making positive things happen.
So, fellow $10 Philanthropists! It’s time to save the date! Our moment to make a BIG difference with our small-but-mighty contributions is upon us.
This year, we’re joining our community and donating to our favorite non-profits during Centre Gives on May 6 and 7, because:
- It’s incredibly convenient (and pretty fun) to donate to lots of organizations in one go via the Centre Gives website. Check out the list of participating non-profits here!
- Lots of people donating a little bit shows community support.
- Community support helps organizations qualify for grants.
- Grants help keep our organizations thriving sustainably long-term.
- Oh, and there’s $500,000 in stretch pool cash! Centre Foundation and Hamer Foundation are kicking in to make our contributions go even farther.
Since 2012, Cente Gives has raised a collective $22.5 million for our local communities, with $2.8 million raised in 2025!
This year, we hope you’ll join fellow $10 Philanthropists on May 6 and 7 to make this the most impactful Centre Gives to date!
