Community Resilience to Shine at the 12th Annual Great Charity Challenge

Presented by Fidelity Investments®

As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® (GCC), we have had the honor of working with the generous event donors and sponsors, along with hundreds of non-profit organizations on an annual basis. It has been a humbling and inspiring experience that has pushed us both to want to further understand the needs of our community.

From the onset of the pandemic, we saw firsthand how many non-profits stepped in to fulfill unmet needs. From food to basic necessities, rental assistance, childcare, healthcare, and more, these organizations never stopped being present, ensuring that our most vulnerable neighbors were looked after.

Based on this observation and a community needs assessment with the county, in partnership with local agencies and in direct response to the unique setting surrounding COVID-19, the event’s 12th edition committed to shifting a majority of its funding priorities towards local non-profits who are directly supporting and assisting the most vulnerable and affected populations in Palm Beach County.

We both felt it was important to adapt to these unprecedented times and focus on COVID-19 Relief and Recovery this year. All organizations who fit this ‘Emergency Category’ had the opportunity to be randomly drawn and paired with a team and corporate sponsors, as you will see here tonight. Other agencies had the opportunity to receive grants via the event, which were randomly drawn leading up to this evening.

They say that “through the most challenging of times, individuals, groups and communities have the opportunity to come together and build something great”.

This describes perfectly what we saw leading up to this year’s event: from the spectacular level of generosity we have witnessed from our donors and riders, pledging their support to the event, as well as the non-profit sector’s ability to meet the need throughout COVID-19. We are truly inspired by their ability to come together and create such an impact.

Tonight’s theme of #HEROES is dedicated to all of YOU. We cannot thank you enough for stepping up during the pandemic, inspiring us all to push beyond our own limits and driving us to “dream bigger.” We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such amazing and dedicated individuals.

Thank you for joining us (here and virtually)!

Paige Bellissimo and Anne Caroline Valtin