On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Lawrence hosted its 11th annual Giving Day. This event, as detailed on the university’s website, is a special occasion that unites students, alumni and their families and friends to support their preferred areas of the university through donation. Alumni and students, as well as friends and family, were allowed to donate to the Lawrence Fund, the source of annual support that helps enhance the educational experience by funding financial aid, academic programs and campus initiatives. Students and graduates from the classes of 2008 to 2028 were able to have their donations matched at a rate of $500 per person who contributed. In contrast, donations from alumni of other classes received a match of $1 for every dollar contributed.
The Lawrence Fund is funded by the Game Changers, a group of dedicated alumni who contribute to it specifically to enhance the impact of Giving Day. Their financial support allows the matching gifts to be offered at increased levels, thereby encouraging participation from more alumni and maximizing the amount raised for the institution during the Giving Day event.
Over the span of 24 hours, Lawrence University raised $1,719,519. With 1,757 donors participating, the campaign achieved over 70% of its goal of 2,500 donors.
According to an email sent by senior Kourtney Mercer, there were various activities held on campus to commemorate Giving Day. There was the Blu Scavenger Hunt, where students were encouraged to look for the stuffed antelope mascot Blu hidden around campus. There were also several games of the Game Changer Bag Toss Challenge. The first students who attended the bag toss were gifted free Giving Day t-shirts, and all participants were able to enter a giveaway. Additionally, there was a lacrosse shooting contest hosted outside of Warch Campus Center (WCC), where the sport, new this year to Lawrence, gained recognition with the use of a lacrosse stick to score Giving Day goals. Moreover, students were encouraged on the website to be on the lookout for golf carts providing rides to class, Giving Day information and candy.
Juniors Kayla Jarppi and Ella Fiorini took over the Lawrence University Instagram as part of their work at the Philanthropy Engagement Center in the Development Office, following a request from Assistant Director of social media Deanna Kolell. Throughout the day, they provided updates on the Gratitude Wall outside Andrew Commons, inviting students to reflect on their gratitude for the university. They also reported on various games related to Giving Day and shared ongoing updates on donations and donor participation.
arppi made the decision to do a takeover of the Lawrence University Instagram because she felt it was important for students to be aware of what Giving Day is and what it means to the community. Jarppi has personally benefited from the Lawrence Fund and received a donor-funded scholarship while on her study abroad program at the Lawrence University London Centre.
“Giving Day is important because it’s a day to show gratitude for our community and celebrate it,” Jarppi stated. “It’s also about trying to raise as much money for the Lawrence Fund as possible, and about supporting the broader Lawrence community as a whole and showing our gratitude for our amazing community of alumni, students, staff and faculty.”
Fiorini also wants the student body of Lawrence to recognize the importance of Giving Day.
“To me, Giving Day is a day for Lawrence,” Fiorini stated. “Both students and alumni get to be donors and be a part of helping LU continue to be the best school it can be. I think that Giving Day helps bring the LU community together.”