Match Madness is March 13. Help SFM build a playscape for kids.
Saint Francis Ministries is gearing up for the 14th Match Madness event in Salina, Kansas, on March 13, just in time for St. Paddy’s Day. That’s just a couple of days away, so here’s hoping for a bit of Irish luck.
Sponsored by the Greater Salina Community Foundation (GSCF), Match Madness generates gifts to endowment funds for local charities for long-term support. Saint Francis Ministries has participated for the last several years, using the funds to support essential programs.
Here’s how Match Madness works:
- GSCF matches the donor’s gift proportionally up to 50 percent in the form of an instant cash grant to the charity to use for current needs.
- The charity may use the match however they choose, including special projects and basic operating costs. Some charities also opt to put the match back into their endowment to meet future needs.
But you must give on March 13!
Donations will be accepted until 6 p.m. You can contribute in person at the Salina Fieldhouse, 140 N. 5th, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or online from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Live outside of Salina? Can’t make it in person? You can still help!
- Donate online at www.matchmadnessgscf.org – 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
- Mail cash or check donations (with a completed donation form) to the community foundation at PO Box 2876, Salina, KS 67402-2876. These must be postmarked March 13, 2025.
But giving in person is much more fun!
Come by the Saint Francis booth (No. 18) and say hi, then get yourself something good to eat from one of the food trucks. Wander the Fieldhouse and visit booths, enjoy free snacks, and visit the donation station.
Then watch our own IT Manager Angie Hall shoot free throws at noon on behalf of SFM. Angie has played basketball since the YMCA days of her youth, including four years of high school varsity ball at Salina South High School. She also placed at nationals with her travel team.
Why do we get so excited about Match Madness? Because it helps Saint Francis bring healing to kids who need it most.
Your contribution during Match Madness will help Saint Francis build an outdoor playscape for kids at our Salina West residential facility.
The inspiration for the playscape project stems from a deep understanding of the transformative power of nature and play in the healing process. Children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and face multiple co-existing mental health conditions often struggle with feelings of isolation, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation. Traditional therapeutic settings, while beneficial, sometimes lack the dynamic and holistic environment that outdoor play can provide. The idea is to
create a safe, engaging, and therapeutic space where these young individuals can reconnect with their innate sense of joy, curiosity, and resilience.
This outdoor playscape project is more than just a playground; it is a sanctuary for healing, growth, and joy.
And you can be part of its creation.
Check out our Match Madness page at www.matchmadnessgscf.org/nonprofits/SaintFrancisMinistries, and then donate on Thursday!
It’s that easy.
