Fundraising totals for UW-Eau Claire’s Giving Day 2019 Challenge are an impressive display of the generosity of Blugolds near and far. A total of $186,101 was donated to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation through 611 gifts, marking Dec. 3, 2019 as the most successful Giving Day to date for the university.
This year’s total giving far surpassed last year’s 24-hour campaign, which yielded $96,185 from 417 gifts. The numerous matching gift opportunities to support specific areas of campus further incentivized donors to give to specific areas of the university and make double the impact, including a match for UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff who made Giving Tuesday donations.
Director of Annual Giving Tori Follett was thrilled with the turnout for support to the Foundation on Giving Tuesday. “Giving Tuesday is my favorite day of the year. There’s nothing more fulfilling than watching hundreds of Blugolds come together to support our students,” Follett said.
On-campus celebrations included the Alumni Association’s annual hat and scarf giveaway on the campus mall as students walked to their morning classes. The Foundation also sponsored “Donuts for Donors,” an opportunity for students to sign their names to a banner while learning about the impact that philanthropy has on their education.
Chancellor Jim Schmidt also involved students in his contribution to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation by seeking ideas for his $1,000 gift on the UW-Eau Claire Instagram story. The Campus Harvest Food Pantry was the most suggested cause, and the chancellor’s gift will be directed to Campus Harvest, which aids students in need of supplemental food assistance.
“I’m overwhelmed by how generous UW-Eau Claire alumni and friends are,” Follett said. “The impact that just one day of giving will have on all of the students at UW-Eau Claire is remarkable, and I feel lucky to have been a part of it!”
