Give4Marion raises $2.4 million

Lauren Deiorio, the president/executive director of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, celebrates as donations rise above $2,345,557 for the Give4Marion conclusion in the NOMA Black Box at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.

Giving. Giving. Gone.

This year’s Give4Marion campaign had raised thousands of dollars for area nonprofits as it began to wind down on Wednesday evening with a celebration at the Reilly Arts Center.

After the 33 hours of giving ended, the Community Foundation reported $2,345,487 in total donations from 5,054 donors.

However, Lauren Delorio, Executive Director for the Community Foundation announced to the crowd that local philanthropist Stan Hanson predicted $2.4 million, so he’d make up the difference from the Adam Hanson Foundation.

The leaderboard indicated that Empowered of Central Florida/The Rock Program/Empowered Wrestling Club founded by Rondo and Toby Fernandez raised the most money, $230,375 from 175 donors.

The final figures won’t be tallied, however, for several days as donations continue to come in.

The annual event was started in 2020 and is organized by the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County.

“Every year, Give4Marion emerges as an example of what happens when neighbors come together for a common cause. This 33-hour online giving event provides residents with a simple yet powerful way to support the nonprofits that make Marion County stronger, healthier and more resilient,” said Lauren Deiorio, executive director of the foundation.

Give4Marion started Tuesday morning, with more than 100 nonprofits eager to make appeals for donations, especially through social media. And that’s where the “fun” element really kicked into gear.

Each Give4Marion campaign features Power Hour and Matching Moment opportunities, along with various challenges.

So, cue the chickens!

Yes indeed, videos featuring chickens have become a staple of Give4Marion, such as those posted this year by Karla Greenway of Interfaith Emergency Services, RJ Jenkins of the Marion County Literacy Council and Jennifer Martinez of Marion Senior Services.

There also was one video featuring Greenway’s pet cow, Elvis, asking folks to “moove off those wallets and make a donation.”

Some of the challenges this year involved Pepsi products and selfies showing people with logo coffee cups, with two reps from the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center camped out in lawn chairs in a bank parking lot in their jammies and fuzzy slippers.

All the good fun is for great causes that offer year-round support for many in our community.

In its five previous years, Give4Marion has raised nearly $6 million for local nonprofits.

To learn more, go to give4marion.org