By: Kirby Tello Illustration by: Alexis Gillis
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Founded in 1981, ThebrCoastal Bend Community Foundation (CBCF) was established to provide a vehiclebrfor individuals to make donations to charitable organizations within the seven-countybrCoastal Bend area. Starting with an initial giftbrof $150,000, the foundation has grown to over $84.3 million as of Junebr30, 2018. These funds allow CBCF to provide grants to local nonprofits andbrpost-secondary scholarships for local students. CBCF’s funding is uniquebrbecause it comes from countless donors who have supported the foundation overbrthe years. In a private foundation, one family or a small group of donorsbrtypically generates funds. Therefore, CBCF is known as “every person’sbrfoundation.”
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Thebr2008-2009 economic downturn severely impacted many nonprofit organizations. The recession birthed the creation of ThebrCoastal Bend Day of Giving. CBCF joined forces with eight other funders tobrprovide $150,000 in matching funds for a one-day, internet-based fundraisingbrcampaign. During Fall 2009, the first everbrCoastal Bend Day of Giving raised $410,000 for 25 different nonprofits in abr24-hour period.
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“Everybryear since, the event has grown, raising over $2.36 million in 2017,” KarenbrSelim explains. Selim is the President and CEO of the Coastal Bend CommunitybrFoundation. “One of the most exhilarating privileges is distributing the checksbrto the participating charities in early December,” she says. “Being able to seebrthe thanksgiving and gratitude from thesebrcharities is unmatched.”
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Forbrthe upcoming 10-year anniversary, The Coastal Bend Day of Giving will have thebrlargest number of participating charities in the history of the event. Fiftybrcharities will be seeking online donations for their causes and have theirbrraised funds matched by CBCF. These organizations encompass foundations thatbrsupport the arts, education, environment, human services, families andbrchildren, and almost any other charitable endeavor imaginable. Additionally,brthe largest amount of matching funds CBCF has to distribute has been raised for 2018 – over $875,000.
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Novemberbr13th marks the 2018 Coastal Bend Day of Giving, and it is shaping upbrto be a memorable and record-breaking event for the 10-year anniversary. ThebrCBCF team believes the growth they have seen this year will continue for yearsbrwith donations given by individuals who want to help the community into thebrfuture. These individuals are the backbone for which grants and scholarshipsbrare made and ultimately provide support to the Coastal Bend.
