Courtesy of Stewart’s Shops
By Paul Post
Area non-profits have until January 31 to apply for a portion of the $1.76 million raised by Stewart’s Shops’ annual Holiday Match program.
Customers of the company’s more than 350 stores donated over $883,500 between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
The company has doubled those donations, penny for penny with no administrative fees, meaning hundreds of non-profit children’s organizations will benefit as money is distributed in coming months.
“We’re really thankful to all of our customers and thankful to all of our shop partners for doing a really great job collecting donations,” said Jennifer Frame, Stewart’s director of corporate philanthropy.
This year’s Holiday Match total was down from the more than $2 million raised last year because there were five fewer collection days, as Thanksgiving came later than normal.
“But collections per day were really strong considering how tough the economy is,” said Robin Cooper, company spokesman. “It was tough for a lot of people financially, but they still gave.”
Since its inception in 1986, Holiday Match has raised more than $39 million to support thousands of organizations focused on improving the lives of area children.
Last year alone, more than 1,800 organizations obtained amounts ranging from $250 to $20,000. To be eligible, recipients must be a registered 501C3 non-profit within Stewart’s market area and must be directly geared toward helping children and/or have children’s programming.
Examples include Little League, a YMCA with children’s programs, a library reading program, a museum arts program, Special Olympics’ Young Athletes program and Double-H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, which supports children and families living with chronic illnesses through year-round programs including summer camps and adaptive winter sports.
Since 2007, Double H Ranch has received more than $100,000 through the Holiday Match program.
“We tell organizations to ask for what they need and we give what we can,” Frame said. “They must tell us how they plan to utilize funds. Typically, larger funding is used for organizations that benefit hundreds or thousands of children such as community centers or the American Red Cross, which really have programs that are open to the community and benefit a large number of children.”
Applicants are expected to learn how money is distributed in mid-March.
Fund-raising goes to organizations in the county where money is donated.
Last year, for example, the $271,425 raised in Saratoga County went to dozens of organizations from Waterford to Corinth.
In Warren County, $114,200 went to recipients such as Abraham Wing Elementary School, Caldwell Lake George Library and the North Warren School Parent Teacher Organization.
The $71,544 raised in Washington County went to non-profits such as the Battenkill Conservancy, Whitehall Wrestling Inc. and Hartford Food Pantry.
Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York plans to distribute 150,000 meals in six counties from money it receives this year. Holiday Match has given $16,000 to the Food Bank during the past five years.
Money from last year’s campaign went to stores in 32 counties in New York and western Vermont that comprise Stewart’s market territory.
During the past year, however, the company made a major expansion, which included New Hampshire for the first time ever. Earlier this month, Stewart’s opened a new shop at the corner of Route 9 and Wellness Way, in Colonie; part of the company’s $50 million capital investment strategy for 2024.
To apply for funding applicants should go to: www.stewartsshops.com and click on the Holiday Match tab under the heading “Sharing With You.”