Last-minute donations take CFA over $300k

When Press Christmas for All volunteers decided to aim high for 2020 — there was a pandemic wreaking havoc, after all — they set the goal at $200,000, basically 10 percent higher than 2019's actual level of giving.

Boy, did they miscalculate.

Wonderfully so.

When local Domino's Pizza franchise owner Jim Hightower brought in a check for $1,500 Monday afternoon, half from employees and half from Jim and Missy Hightower, that pushed the campaign total over $300,000: $301,650, to be exact.

In other words, the optimistic goal for 2020 was actually 33 percent short of what happened. And well above what had ever happened before.

The previous record, set in 2011, was $238,105.

"I've never seen anything like this," said Press Publisher and CFA volunteer Clint Schroeder. "Every time I thought we'd hit the ceiling, donors created a higher ceiling."

The last big blast was powered by a $10,000 gift from the Innovia Foundation. According to the nonprofit's website, innovia.org:

Innovia Foundation ignites generosity that transforms lives and communities. As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we envision vibrant and sustainable communities, where every person has the opportunity to thrive.

Well, they made sure Press Christmas for All recipients would thrive.

Also pitching in with generous donations received after Christmas were the following:

Edith Brehm, Shannon Dryden, Janelle and Douglas Johnson, Barbara Zimmer, Cal Meierbachtol, Martha Ann Sandstrom, Jerry and Cathy Sebby, John and Angela Miranda, Sherrill and Patrick McCullough, Pamela Rarick, Janice D'Arc, Jan and Dan Kaestner, Richard and Marilyn Croy and Kaestner Electric Inc.