West Virginia University will hold its annual Day of Giving fundraising event on March 25, offering alumni and supporters opportunities to increase the impact of their donations through a series of hourly and all-day challenges.
The Day of Giving aims to support various areas across the university, including student scholarships, academic programs, research, infrastructure improvements, health care, and athletics. The event is organized by the WVU Foundation and has raised more than $142 million since it began in 2017.
Kristen Shipp, executive director of annual giving at the WVU Foundation, said: “There are so many ways during Day of Giving to get involved and increase support for your favorite program, unit or area of WVU. If you have never made a gift to WVU or are looking to create a greater impact with a gift of $5 or more, Day of Giving is the perfect opportunity to participate and make a larger difference.”
This year marks Michael T. Benson’s first Day of Giving as president. He is encouraging alumni and friends to consider supporting his presidential priorities such as the WVU Success Scholarship for flexible scholarship funding and the Presidential Innovation Fund for entrepreneurship education.
Participants can unlock additional funds for their chosen areas by joining day-long challenges like becoming top ambassadors through unique URLs or sharing posts on social media using #WVUDayofGiving. Other activities include singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” online or posting photos in university gear for chances at extra funding. Hourly competitions will reward groups with most gifts during certain times throughout the day.
Donations can be made online at dayofgiving.wvu.edu starting at midnight EDT. Information tables will be available on campus from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., where faculty, staff and students can learn about participating or take part in related activities such as a scavenger hunt featuring Musket the plush dog.
West Virginia University has produced notable scholarship recipients including 25 Rhodes Scholars and 27 Truman Scholars according to the official website. The university draws inspiration from its motto ‘Mountaineers Go First’ according to the official website, fosters an inclusive community according to the official website, encompasses distinctive campuses according to the official website, and seeks to build a stronger future for West Virginia and beyond according to the official website.
