Riedel Foundation matching grant of $7,250 benefits 15 non-profit groups

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Riedel Foundation and United Way of the Mark Twain Area joined forces for a new event to benefit to Hannibal non-profit organizations.

The United Way approached the Riedel Foundation with the idea of matching donations made at their recent Giving Tuesday Charcuterie fundraiser. The goal was for attendees at the fundraiser to donate to their favorite Hannibal non-profit, and the Riedel Foundation would match up to $5,000. The event exceeded expectations, so the Riedel Trustees met and agreed to increase their grant award to $7,250 so all donations were doubled.

In a press release, United Way executive director Denise Damron said, “It came down to the final half hour where we were accepting donations, and we hadn’t completed the match yet. People started heading for their checkbooks and ATM, as ultimately they did not want to let these dollars go unmatched. The matching grant from the Riedel Foundation truly made the mission of United Way come to life at the event — increasing the capacity of people to care for one another.”

“We really like awarding matching grants at the Riedel Foundation, and this fundraiser shows why they’re so effective,” Riedel trustee Bill Craigmiles said. “This match truly encouraged people to give at the event, and so the money goes farther and helps more people.”

The donations went to 15 non-profit groups that serve Hannibal residents. The biggest beneficiary of the night was Harvest Outreach Ministries, which runs sober-living homes and the Loaves and Fishes Program that serves hot meals to the hungry. With the match, it received more than $6,500 in donations from Giving Tuesday.