Marshall University has announced the success of its fourth Day of Giving: 1837 Minutes for Marshall with $275,189 raised in support of various university initiatives. This marks a record-breaking year, with the highest total contributions and number of donors to date.
Marshall’s Day of Giving, which occurred April 23-24 and hosted by the Marshall University Foundation, is a virtual event that invites the Marshall family to come together and make a meaningful difference in the lives of Marshall’s students through online giving.
“This was my first year experiencing Marshall’s Day of Giving, and I was truly moved by the outpouring of support from our alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “The generosity and dedication of Marshall’s donors made this event an incredible success, and it’s clear that the spirit of giving here is strong and continues to grow.”
A total of 664 gifts were made during Day of Giving, with 591 individual donors participating. Areas of interest that received the most gifts include the Lewis College of Business, Office of Student Financial Assistance, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Student Affairs and Marshall For All, which aims to minimize or eliminate student debt for Marshall graduates.
Day of Giving supporters were invited to contribute to specific scholarships, programs, departments or other university priorities. The day included matching gift opportunities, challenges and incentives designed to boost participation and increase donations. Challenges included funds for the School of Medicine, Bill Noe Flight School, graduate assistantships and the student emergency fund.
Forty-nine people registered to serve as Day of Giving ambassadors. Ambassadors inspired others to contribute by sharing their personal connections to Marshall and stories about why they give. Donations made through their unique links were tracked and displayed on the leaderboard featured on the Day of Giving website. Through their efforts, 146 gifts were made totaling more than $12,500. Shaunte Polk, director of access, connections and engagement for Marshall University, brought in the highest number of donations among the ambassadors.
The day also included stories of impact across the Marshall University Foundation’s social media platforms and Marshall followers were encouraged to participate in “Wear Green Wednesday” on April 23 to show support for the event while also being entered into a special giveaway.
“Day of Giving gets better every year, and I’m blown away by the generosity and pride of the Marshall community,” said Griffin Talbott, senior director of annual giving for the Marshall University Foundation. “We’re so thankful for everyone who came together to make it such a meaningful and successful day.”
For more information about making a gift, contact the Marshall University Foundation at 304-696-6264 or visit www.formarshallu.org.