Thomas County Community Foundation Hosts Inaugural Match Day

The Thomas County Community Foundation held its inaugural Match Day on Monday inside the Thomas County Office Complex, offering residents a one-day opportunity to make contributions to local funds with every dollar matched until a $35,000 pool was reached. The match was made possible by funds generated during the Patterson Family Foundation’s match opportunity earlier this year.

Foundation Director Jada Tubbs said the event was designed to strengthen local endowments, promote the county’s charitable organizations, and give residents a direct look at how their donations support long-term community projects. By the end of the day the community had come together and provided 173 charitable gifts among 10 funds totaling $90,553.51. All of those dollars will be going back into the community through the various funds available, making an immediate impact.

Doors opened at 7:30 a.m., and throughout the morning residents stopped in to visit with fund representatives, ask questions, and learn more about the mission of GrowThomasCounty.org, the Foundation’s online hub for Match Day information. Ten participating funds displayed materials outlining their goals and specific needs, ranging from youth programs and healthcare projects to scholarships and community improvement initiatives.

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One of the highlight moments came at 10 a.m. when Colby USD 315’s fifth grade class arrived. Western State Bank sponsored every fifth grader in Thomas County by providing each student with ten dollars to donate to a fund of their choice. Fifty-seven students from USD 315 were expected to participate Monday morning. Staff and volunteers welcomed the class with cookies, donuts, and water as the group entered the decorated conference room to begin exploring the available funds.

Tubbs had visited fifth grade classrooms across the county in previous weeks to teach students the basics of philanthropy. She explained how charitable giving benefits local organizations, how endowments generate support year after year, and what students should expect when arriving at Match Day. The students spent time reviewing the fund descriptions before making their selections and afterward enjoyed a cookie before returning to school.

Western State Bank President J. L. Evins said the bank was quick to support the project when Tubbs first approached him. He said sponsoring the county’s fifth graders aligned with the bank’s commitment to investing locally and helping young people understand how community foundations work. Evins noted that Match Day allows local dollars to be combined with outside matching dollars, multiplying the effect of each donation. He added that Western State Bank remains committed to Colby, Thomas County, and the surrounding area, and that supporting youth involvement was an important part of that mission.

Students were able to choose from multiple funds, including the Landry Family Fund, Casey Quagliano Memorial Fund, Citizens Foundation, Deanna and Wayne Sulzman Family Fund, Amy and Daniel Jennings Fund, Jay C. and Susan (Dell) Woofter Family Fund, Thomas County Amusement Association, Colby Little League Football, USD 315 Colby Public Schools, and Heartland Christian School. Each fund provided mission statements and project descriptions for donors to review on site and online.

Throughout the day, GrowThomasCounty.org displayed updated totals as donations were submitted. Early activity showed strong interest in youth, healthcare, and community-development funds, with steady participation from both in-person and online donors.

Tubbs said the Foundation views Match Day as an opportunity to strengthen awareness of local philanthropy and build long-term community engagement. She said the turnout, coupled with Western State Bank’s involvement, helped ensure the success of the county’s first attempt at hosting such an event.