Giving Tuesday: Great Charity Giveback sees record donations in 2025

Nearly $1 million raised

The Golden Belt Community Foundation on Thursday unveiled the results of this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign, which raised a record $973,952 for nonprofit organizations and charitable funds in Barton, Edwards, Pawnee, Rush and Stafford counties. - photo by photos by Susan Thacker/Great Bend Tribune

This year’s Giving Tuesday fundraiser by the Golden Belt Community Foundation came close to raising $1 million. The top recipient, the Great Bend Recreation Commission Foundation, raised $307,263.31.

John Francis accepted the award, noting the Foundation is working to create a community golf course in Great Bend.

“Thank you everyone. It’s been a two-year goal of ours, and I love all the people here. The stewardship is why we love living in Great Bend, Kansas. People have big hearts, and they open up their checkbooks for their big hearts. After about two years of trying to get the golf course open again, Kim (Vink) and I formed Friends of Great Bend.”

The the Rec Commission got involved, and Rick and Lois Ball generously donated the former StoneRidge Golf Course property to the GBRC Foundation. An energized team is looking forward to getting a community golf course going as an asset for the community, Francis said.

Pawnee Rock won the Most Generous City award. That is based on the community that donated the most money per capita. Along with an MGC trophy, Pawnee Rock will receive $1,000 to put toward a community project. Last year’s winner, Great Bend, used its $1,000 a sign at Heizer Park, putting the final touch on the park’s improvement project.

Mackenzie Mitchell, development and communications coordinator with the GBCF, said this was the 12th year for the Giving Tuesday campaign here. There were 127 participating organizations – the most ever – from Barton, Pawnee, Rush and Stafford counties, as well as Edwards County, which joined for the first time. The campaign raised a record-breaking $973,952.