Around 10:30 p.m. on May 1, as we wrapped up another incredible Big Day of Giving, I was watching the giving tally tick upward from our conference room when my phone rang. It was an unknown number — and thinking it might be media calling for a last-minute update, I cheerily answered.
Instead, I heard cheers and sobs. On the other end of the line was Jeannine Anderson-West, a volunteer with Arden Arcade HART. Through happy tears, she told me her organization had just learned they were the recipient of this year’s $5,000 Big Day of Giving Mega Boost prize.
Thanks to Western Health Advantage’s generous sponsorship, one gift made during Big Day of Giving is randomly selected to be boosted by $5,000. This year, Western Health Advantage’s Garry Maisel and Mark Gilroy drew the winning donation: a $50 gift from Victoria, a new donor to Arden Arcade HART. That small gift quickly became something much bigger.
Arden Arcade HART (Homeless Assistance Resource Team) is a volunteer-led organization that supports people experiencing homelessness in the Arden Arcade area. Their work includes helping individuals eat regularly, access transportation, and overcome stigma, and it extends beyond those visibly living on the streets. HART also serves 700 to 800 elementary and high school students in the San Juan Unified School District who are grappling with housing instability. Each year, volunteers from 20 local faith communities provide 14,500 meals, 1,600 snack bags, and more than 1,000 hygiene kits, along with distributing tents, tarps, blankets, and clothing.
HART joined Big Day of Giving for the first time last year, raising $4,851. This year, the community gave $8,001 — and with the Mega Boost, their total reached $13,001 to further their mission.
When I asked how they plan to use the funding, Jeannine shared that, as always, they’ll focus on their clients’ most pressing needs. That includes renting shower trailers, buying bus passes, investing in towels, and stocking up on hygiene products, all made possible by community generosity.
Admittedly, I was 22 hours into the day, and maybe the sleep deprivation was catching up with me. But the tears I shed after that call weren’t from exhaustion. They were from gratitude. Of the 855 nonprofits participating this year, every single one would have appreciated this $5,000 boost. For many of them, it’s the equivalent of a full campaign goal. Arden Arcade HART, like more than 400 other participating organizations, is entirely volunteer-run, making this win all the more meaningful.
Victoria’s gift, Western Health Advantage’s sponsorship, and HART’s unwavering commitment to its neighbors will directly impact lives in the months ahead. For me, this moment — a blend of giving, caring, and joyful surprise — captures the spirit of Big Day of Giving. It’s why this event continues to inspire so many donors and nonprofits across our region.
Congratulations to every organization for your incredible work to raise millions for our community, and thank you to each donor who made it possible.
