Young alumni secure $100,000 gift to Opportunity Vanderbilt for third consecutive year

Members of the classes of 2005 to 2014 have shown their commitment to Vanderbilt and its students by rising to the GOLD Challenge3 and securing a $100,000 gift to Opportunity Vanderbilt—the university’s initiative to replace all need-based undergraduate student loans with scholarships and grant assistance.

This marks the third consecutive year that an anonymous donor has challenged graduates of the last decade to give back to Vanderbilt through a GOLD Challenge. As in years past, he pledged to donate $100,000 to Opportunity Vanderbilt if a specific donor goal was met. This year, 3,364 young alumni made gifts to areas across the university, exceeding the goal of 3,333 donors.

Thanks to the success of this year’s challenge, young alumni have helped to raise a total of $300,000 in challenge gifts to fund Opportunity Vanderbilt scholarships since 2013.

“I am so proud of our young alumni for consistently answering the call to support Vanderbilt students,” said Kyle McGowan, assistant vice chancellor for annual giving. “We are incredibly grateful for their gifts and their philanthropic spirit—both of which set a wonderful example for the entire alumni community.”

To learn more about the GOLD Challenge3, visit vu.edu/gold. To learn more about Opportunity Vanderbilt, visit giving.vanderbilt.edu/oppvu.