Last Thursday was a very big day for us.  The full number is not in yet, but it appears we raised around $40,000 through our Giving Day efforts.  This is almost as much as the rest of the university… combined.  It’s an extraordinary accomplishment, and we’ve more than doubled what was already an impressive accomplishment from last year ($16,000).  When you consider the matching funds on top of that, we raised a lot of money for our students. 

These donations will go to the CAHSS Impact Fund, which we’ve created to directly support student success in a variety of ways:

  • Facilitating tours of local businesses and nonprofits
  • Funding student participation in scholarly research and creative activities
  • Paying for one-on-one lunches with faculty mentors
  • Bringing professionals right to campus, providing students with valuable opportunities to network

Over the next few months, we’ll articulate more clearly how we’ll spend that money to make sure students from across the college benefit.

It’s important for us to highlight that the vast majority of that money was raised through Jennie Young’s public scholarship platforms on feminist rhetoric. The outpouring of support from those who follow her is a testament to the impact she’s had on the lives of so many people – she’s creating a meaningful social movement and has touched so many lives in the process. Her example reflects the profound impact a scholar can have when they put their work out into the world. 

We believe this is our path to success as a college. While the reach will vary, we all have spheres of influence. We all have people whose lives have been made better because of our work.  They may be former students.  They may be professional connections. They may be people who’ve simply come across our work in a bookstore, an art gallery, at a concert, or on social media. The relationships we build with people like this matter, and last Thursday was an example of how and why they matter. Not just because of the money we raised, but because each dollar we earned isn’t just money we can use to support our students, but reflects good will we’ve generated with our community.

Giving Day wasn’t just about the money we raised; it was about telling our story to the broader communities we serve.  Throughout last week, Rachel Sankey created a series of videos showcasing the amazing experiences our students are having across the college.  From student radio in communication to the RISO printer in design to the VR lab in psychology, these videos tell a story of students having incredible opportunities to learn.  They tell a story of dedicated faculty and staff who have crafted meaningful learning experiences for students.  They tell a story of a college that is developing curious and creative problem-solvers who leave UWGB prepared to be successful in their personal and professional lives and to contribute to the wellness of their communities.

We couldn’t tell that story without your efforts and we’re thankful for the work you do every day for students.