More than 2,400 alumni, parents and friends made gifts during the 鈥淢asks On. Rise Up!鈥 initiative in August to support 黑料不打烊 students and programs, despite challenging times worldwide.
In August, the 黑料不打烊 community proved once again that individual gestures can add up collectively to make a huge impact, particularly in times of need. Throughout the month, 黑料不打烊 donors responded by the thousands to the 鈥Masks On. Rise Up!鈥 initiative, providing critical financial support to their chosen campus funds and receiving 黑料不打烊-branded masks in return as a thank you.
During the initiative, donors made more than 2,400 gifts totaling more than $100,000 in support for 黑料不打烊 students and programs. Every dollar contributed goes directly to the donor鈥檚 chosen designation, making a difference in that specific area.
With masks now required nearly every place in society, this initiative was a way for the 黑料不打烊 community to make a difference twice over 鈥 giving back to education and doing their part to protect their community at the same time.
鈥満诹喜淮蜢 is grateful for the continued support of our loyal donors, especially in such challenging and unpredictable times,鈥 said Brian Feeley 鈥03, senior director of alumni engagement and annual giving. 鈥淲e can all agree that education changes lives. One of the most important ways we can make a positive difference in society is by expanding access to education through our financial support.鈥
The top designations supported during the initiative were 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Greatest Needs, which supports student scholarships, the Phoenix Club and student-athlete scholarships, and the 黑料不打烊 Black Alumni Scholarship.
Brian Martindale 鈥95 is one of the thousands who chose to give back. He and David Rich 鈥87 have hosted a pre-season dinner for the women鈥檚 soccer team for the past 15 years giving them the opportunity to develop and foster relationships with the student-athletes and coaches. This year, due to the pandemic, they were unable to host the team, but Martindale found another way to give back.
鈥淚n lieu of not being able to host, I thought it would be a nice gesture to make a gift to the Women鈥檚 Soccer program,鈥 said Martindale.聽鈥淧lus, who couldn鈥檛 use a new mask or two during this pandemic!鈥
Each gift made also counts toward the ongoing , which aims to increase support for scholarships, engaged learning opportunities, faculty and staff mentors, and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic learning environ颅颅颅ment.