Record-Breaking Giving Day, Mohawk Valley Gives, Raises More Than $5.2 Million For Area Nonprofits

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation hosted the third annual “Mohawk Valley Gives,” on September 20 to raise funds for local nonprofits serving Herkimer, Oneida and Otsego counties. The community came together and raised over $5.2 million thanks to contributions from more than 8,200 donors, making it a record-breaking year for the campaign. All 325 participating nonprofit organizations received a donation through the giving event.   

Hundreds of matches and challenges from community members energized organizations and donors alike. Many organizations received matches and challenges from UpMobility Foundation and through the Staffworks Save a Life Campaign, enabling them to double, or in some cases, triple their earnings from the giving day.

Over 12,200 donations, ranging from $5 to $1M, came in from 48 states and three continents, contributing to the final tally. Anita Vitullo and her Staffworks Fund were inspired to make a $1M donation to Anita’s Stevens Swan Humane Society in memory of her first rescue dog, Princess. Another notable donation was a $500,000 gift made anonymously to Notre Dame Schools.

The top earners for the giving day are as follows, and the full list of results can be found at givemv.org. 

• Anita’s Stevens Swan Humane Society - $1.1M+
• Notre Dame Schools - $537,000+
• Mohawk Valley Community College Foundation - $133,000+

“The enthusiasm that we received from the community in support of Mohawk Valley Gives has been incredible and each year just gets better and better,” said Alicia Fernandez Dicks, president/CEO of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. “The work of our nonprofit partners benefits everyone in our community and Mohawk Valley Gives has provided people the opportunity to show their support for organizations that have made a difference in their lives. This giving event is uniquely positioned to celebrate the important work of area nonprofits, engage residents and businesses in a meaningful way, and recognize the generosity that exists right here in our community.” 

“We were truly honored to partner with the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties on the 2024 Mohawk Valley Gives campaign,” said Heidi Cochran, grants administrator for UpMobility Foundation. “This successful day of giving illustrated the incredible power of a match. Each matched donation multiplied the generosity of our community, turning individual contributions into a collective force that fuels dreams and accelerates impact. We are excited to witness the lasting, transformative effects this will have on the Mohawk Valley, not just today, but for years to come.”

Throughout the course of the day on September 20, cash prizes were awarded to participating nonprofit organizations thanks to support from Mohawk Valley Gives sponsors. The Community Foundation revealed select prize winners Friday during a series of Publisher’s Clearing House-style surprise announcements, delivering five $1,000 ceremonial checks to mark the occasion. A “prize patrol” bus transported Mohawk Valley Gives representatives, as well as sponsors, to each of the winning organizations for a check presentation. All prize winners can be viewed at givemv.org/prizes.

“As food insecurity has grown in our inner city, Historic Old St John’s parishioners appreciate how much the Mohawk Valley Gives donations will help us support our important food ministries,” said Deborah Tyksinski, trustee and volunteer at Historic Old St. John’s Food Pantry. “The generous donations and jackpot prize will feed our pantry families and daily lunch guests for several months.”

Returning this year was the “Piece of the Pie” prize pool, sponsored by M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation. This prize pool was a $25,000 bonus stretch pool that complemented the “Take the Cake – Most Donors” prize, sponsored by M&T Bank. Organizations who received at least one online donation on September 20 earned between $51 and $306—the more donors an organization had, the bigger their piece of the prize pie was.   

Mohawk Valley Gives is powered by the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation, presented by Staffworks and M&T Bank and made possible by the following sponsors: Utica National Insurance Group, Bank of Utica, Bank of America, Mastrovito Hyundai, Berkshire Bank, First Source Federal Credit Union, Pacemaker Steel and Piping Company, Caruso McLean Investment Advisors, The Mele Family Fund of the Community Foundation, Assured Information Security, FMN Creative, Baird – The Earl Savery Group, C&D Advertising, S. Lennon & Company Jewelers, Griffin Charitable Foundation, Pulver Roofing Company, Newport Telephone, and media sponsors including, Sentinel Media Company, Townsquare Media, and WKTV NewsChannel 2.  Mohawk Valley Gives also partners with the Staffworks Save a Life Campaign and The Community Foundation of Otsego County.  

Mohawk Valley Gives is set to return in September 2025.