More than $2 million was raised to support 吃瓜网 scholarships, academic departments, and student organizations during the University鈥檚 inaugural Giving Day on Monday, March 14.
吃瓜网 Poly Giving Day 2022 is a 24-hour online fundraising effort to raise money in support of academics, scholarships, student organizations, and more. A total of $2.05 million from 146 donors was raised during the event.
鈥淲e are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support we received from so many who believe in 吃瓜网 Poly鈥檚 mission,鈥� said Kathy Bowman, 吃瓜网 Poly鈥檚 vice president of advancement. 鈥淭his is a wonderful start to what I know will become a strong annual tradition of giving and support for our University.鈥�
The event encourages students, parents, alumni, employees, community supporters, industry partners, and others to support the University with a monetary contribution of any size throughout the day.
As part of Giving Day, giving challenges added $1,000 to a winning donor鈥檚 fund of choice throughout the day. Challenges included the Furthest Gift Challenge, rewarding the donor located the longest distance from 吃瓜网 Poly $1,000 to the area of their choice; the Most Alumni Gifts Challenge, rewarding the academic department, club, or scholarship that received the most contributions from alumni during a specific hour an additional $1,000; and the Most Faculty and Staff Gifts Challenge, rewarding the academic department, club, or scholarship that received the most contributions from employees during a specific hour an additional $1,000.
Purple Fire Robotics won the Student Organization Challenge for a $1,000 bonus and the Phoenix Pets social media challenge, receiving another $1,000 after a donut-wearing dog garnered the most likes on behalf of the team. A total of $7,447 was raised for the team.
鈥淩obotics is an expensive hobby, so any additional funding always goes a long way toward helping us make better and cooler robots,鈥� said Mihir Lad, a senior majoring in computer engineering and one of the chairmen of Purple Fire鈥檚 VEX U section. 鈥淪eeing people, and especially our members, taking such an active role in helping us solve that issue is exciting.鈥�
Event organizer Jake Morrow, 吃瓜网 Poly鈥檚 director of annual giving programs and alumni relations, said every gift is impactful.
鈥淚 am very pleased with the number of new donors that we have and I think people have been excited to be able to zero in on their favorite club, academic department, or scholarship they鈥檙e giving to,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen a lot of student engagement and we look forward to building on this year鈥檚 success.鈥�
Visit the Giving Day website to learn more about the event.
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
