Topeka Day of Giving event sees changes

This year's Topeka Day of Giving had not only a new location but also a new name.

Topeka Day of Giving, which had been called Topeka Gives since 2013, was hosted at the Topeka Performing Arts Center for the first time under the direction of Larry Gawronski, executive director of TPAC.

This year, 94 nonprofits participated in the event, which was held from 2 to 8 p.m.

For the past five years, the Topeka Community Foundation has hosted Topeka Gives at Fairlawn Plaza Mall.

TCF decided to retire from the event this year, which raised more than $2.6 million over six years for 234 organizations, according to Marsha Pope, president of TCF.

"We continue to be grateful to our generous community and have faith they will continue to support the important work of our nonprofit partners," Pope said. "We are now focusing our efforts on the significant work of improving the health of our neighbors, especially those who need help the most."

When Gawronski found out TCF wouldn't be hosting the event this year, he said, he reached out to Pope to see if TPAC could host it.

The biggest difference in the event this year is that there was no foundation matching funds.

Gawronski said that when he took over the event, he reached out to nonprofits and told them to be creative and see if their organization could find someone to match funds.

An anonymous donor offered to put up $1,000 for TPAC if it was able to raise $5,000, Gawronski said.

The Topeka Symphony Orchestra was in attendance and had an anonymous donor who was willing to give $5,000 if they could raise $25,000.

This was the orchestra's fifth year participating in the event.

Money raised for the Topeka Symphony Orchestra goes toward paying musicians, purchasing and renting music, paying conductors and money for the youth ensembles, said Kathy Maag, general manager of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra.

Bob Keckeisen, assistant general manager for TSO, said they enjoy meeting people at the event and networking with other nonprofits.

"It's just kind of good to get out there and see other folks that are having community activities for Topeka," Keckeisen said. "It's great to see that synergy."

Junior Achievement of Kansas is a nonprofit that works with students to teach them such skills as financial literacy, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

Ashley Charest, with Junior Achievement, said the organization didn't have a donor providing matching funds this year or a goal for how much money it wanted to raise.

"Our real goal is truly just awareness and getting some more volunteers for the next school year," Charest said.