The Over The Edge event held this weekend raised an estimated $250,000 for Child Advocacy Center.
But rappelling down the Sky Eleven building downtown wasn’t the nonprofit’s only fundraiser of the day.
A run, bike race and dinner helped draw in more than $300,000 for the nonprofit that works with victims of child abuse and neglect, said Lisa Langley, development associate.
“I think we can safely say it absolutely exceeded our expectations,” she said. “We had a lot of committed people. They just stepped up.”
On June 4, 69 people rappelled down the north side of the 10-story apartment building. Each of the participants were asked to raise at least $1,000 - the cost per child who visits the CAC - but many went above the $10,000 and $5,000 thresholds. Another eight media members, including Springfield Business Journal account executive Karen Ross, went over the Sky Eleven wall the prior day.
Jack Henry & Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: JKHY) CEO Jack Prim, who donned a Spider-Man outfit for the event, was the top fundraiser, bringing in an estimated $22,200, Langley said.
Others who crossed the $10,000 mark - dubbed Super Edgers by CAC - were:
• Tom Prater of Mattax-Neu-Prater Eye Center, $14,605;
• Jami Peebles of Central Trust & Investment Co., $14,055;
• Matt Morrow of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, $11,250;
• Katie Moore, a former CAC board member, $11,125;
• Cheryl Briggs of DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic, $10,525; and
• John Jungmann of Springfield Public Schools, $10,045.
“These people have been in our center. They really understand the mission,” Langley said. “Once you come in and see what we do, you become emotionally connected to the center.”
Halifax, Nova Scotia-based Over The Edge’s events average $100,000 in funds raised. Since 2008, about 40 percent of clients generated $160,000-$200,000, with a recent Los Angeles event breaking seven figures, according to
SBJ archives.
Langley said Over The Edge charged $30,000 for the Springfield event, all of which was paid for by an anonymous donor.
