Vanderbilt’s third annual Giving Day is scheduled for June 5 and will offer the entire Vanderbilt community a chance to join together to “give for the gold” and make the university stronger.
The campaign will build on the successes of the previous two years, as Vanderbilt strives to reach a record-setting goal of 6,300 donors in just 24 hours. Last year, 5,938 people made contributions of all sizes totaling $2,625,644. Gifts large and small will combine again this year to help fund things such as scholarships, study-abroad opportunities, outfitting classrooms with the latest technology, and much more.
“Giving Day is an opportunity for our alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends to take just a few minutes out of one day to make an impact that will be felt by those on our campus for many, many days to come,” said Kyle McGowan, assistant vice chancellor of annual giving. “We are so grateful for the generosity of our donors throughout the year, and we look forward to seeing the ways in which they will show their pride on June 5.”
In addition to making a gift, alumni and friends are encouraged to spread the “give for the gold” spirit by posting to social media using the hashtag #give4thegold and sharing the excitement of the day with their networks. Special volunteers called Giving Day Ambassadors will lead this effort.
“The difference Vanderbilt made in my life is due largely to gifts from kindhearted people who cared enough about my future to participate in philanthropic initiatives like Giving Day,” said Courtney Holliday Hess, BA’09, JD’12. “We are Vanderbilt—we are at the heart of the university’s character and the key to its continued success.”
To learn more about Giving Day and how you can be involved, visit vu.edu/givingday.
by Nicole Smith