It was a record-setting year before the doors opened on December 1, 2023, at Ellison Place for this year’s Extreevaganza! The generosity of this community and its support for this event were expressed in many ways. Corporate Partner sponsorship was unprecedented, with 2 Diamond Partners, 8 Platinum Partners, 24 Gold Partners, 1 Silver Partner, and 4 Bronze Partners, ten of whom were new to this event. Donation items for the silent and live auctions filled the OCF conference room and offices and spilled out into the hallway weeks before the event. The OCF staff were greeted with a new obstacle course every day they came into work.
Over 400 attendees funneled into Ellison Place on a cold and clear Friday night to a room that was buzzing with excitement. Guests were greeted with opportunities to participate in both a silent and live auction, a dessert auction, a raffle, Heads or Tails game, and a chance to buy a chocolate bar with a Golden Ticket. Guests heard from OCF Executive Director Dana Bensinger about the power of community philanthropy, and grant recipient videos illustrated the impact of your generosity on Otsego County. Everyone had the chance to participate in grant-making in real-time by voting for one of five local nonprofit organizations chosen from our community to receive a $5,000 grant at the end of the evening. 22 2 None, an organization focused on reducing veteran suicide, was chosen.
Some of the evening’s big winners include:
- $3,000 – Raffle Winner – Kristy Green
- $2,000 – Raffle Winner – Paul Feliksa
- $1,000 – Raffle Winner – Janet Nowicki
- Heads or Tails Game Winner – Brandie Meisner
The biggest winner of the night, however, was The Community Fund of the OCF. With all the glitz and glamour, festivities, and fun, it’s easy to forget why Extreevaganza is held every year. The proceeds of this event, roughly $200,000, generated by the generosity of our Corporate Partners, participants, and donors, go into the Community Fund of the OCF, which is invested back into Otsego County through grantmaking. This permanent resource allows the OCF to grow and respond to the needs of Otsego County as they arise, including those that we cannot predict or anticipate. Your participation in this event allows us to activate generosity for a stronger community. We could not do it without you.
Thank you, Celeste Lovely Photography and Little Aussie Photography, for sharing your time and talent with the OCF! Below is a link to both their galleries, filled with beautiful photos. https://linqapp.com/celestelovely
This event would not be possible without the hard work of our Extreevaganza Ambassadors over the last year. Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasure to make this the best Extreevaganza yet!
- Janet Nowicki – Co-Chair
- Joe Lawless – Co-Chair
- Julie Gregory
- Jen Mazur
- Liz Forrieder
- Stacey Kosch
- Ellen Tempelton
- Cathy Smalley
- Krista Dorr
- Meghan Spires
- Denise Makranyi
- Wendy Forman
- Matt Soderquist
Thank you to all of the volunteers who shared their time to make the night a success!
- James Camiller
- Shauna VanDeventer
- Jessica Beals
- Elaine Gottschalk
- Kayla Albrecht
- Jordan Awrey
- Rebecca Reynolds
- Dave Beyers
- Kara Prevo
- Brooke Donker
- Heather Proctor
- Angela Jewett
- Collin Wilson
- Cathy Coppersmith
- Lisa Phillips
- Dave Beyers
- OCF Youth Advisory Committee
Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with warmth and gratitude,
Dana, Amanda, Karin, Patty, Kristine and Katie.