Hourly, all-day challenges to boost WVU Day of Giving

Alumni and friends will have the opportunity to amplify the impact of their gifts Wednesday (March 25) during Day of Giving at West Virginia University.

The 24-hour fundraising event, organized by the WVU Foundation, is in its ninth year, encompassing the entire WVU System and raising over $142 million since 2017.

"There are so many ways during Day of Giving to get involved and increase support for your favorite program, unit or area of WVU," Kristen Shipp, WVU Foundation executive director of annual giving, said. "If you have never made a gift to WVU or are looking to create a greater impact with a gift of $5 or more, Day of Giving is the perfect opportunity to participate and make a larger difference."

All areas of the University benefit, including student scholarships, academic programs, groundbreaking research, infrastructure improvements, health care, athletics and more.

It will be Michael T. Benson's first Day of Giving as WVU president. He is encouraging alumni and friends to consider supporting his presidential priorities. Gifts made to the WVU Success Scholarship will provide the University with flexible, unrestricted scholarship funding. Support for the Presidential Innovation Fund will expand access to entrepreneurship education and immersive, experiential learning opportunities that empower students to turn ideas into action.

Day of Giving participants can unlock additional dollars for the areas of WVU that matter most to them by taking part in day-long and hourly challengesWednesday.

Among the day-long challenges:

• The top five registered Day of Giving ambassadors who inspire the most gifts through their unique URL will win additional funding for their program/unit of choice.

• Alumni and friends can share about their gift on social media by commenting on the WVU Foundation's day-of video. Three donors will be selected from the comments to earn additional funding for tagged units.

• The Country Roads Challenge calls for participants to record a video of themselves on social media singing or performing "Take Me Home, Country Roads" to help their favorite unit or program. Three of the most creative #WVUDayofGiving posts will be selected to earn additional funding for tagged units.

• Participants can post pictures on social media of themselves/kids/pets wearing their favorite WVU gear. Three creative #WVUDayofGiving posts will be selected to earn additional funding for tagged units.

Hourly challenges also offer exciting opportunities to secure additional funds based on participation and dollar amount raised. Some of the highlights include:

• From midnight to 1 a.m. EDT, the top three participating groups with the most gifts during the day's opening hour will win additional funding.

• From 10-11 a.m. EDT, the top three participating groups with the most gifts from WVU alumni will win additional funding.

• From noon to 1 p.m. EDT, the top three participating groups with the most first-time donor gifts will win additional funding.

• From 2-3 p.m. EDT, the top three participating groups with the largest gifts made online will win additional funding.

• From 3-4 p.m. EDT, the top three participating groups with the most faculty and staff gifts will win additional funding.

• From 8-9 p.m. EDT, the top three participating groups with the most young alumni gifts - 2015-2025 graduating classes - will win additional funding.

• From 11 p.m. to midnight EDT, the top three participating groups with the most gifts in the day's final hour will win additional funding.

Donations Wednesday can be made online at dayofgiving.wvu.edu, where participants can also stay updated on challenge winners, live leaderboards and the donor wall. Gifts of $5 or more are accepted throughout the day.

On campus, Day of Giving information tables will be staffed Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Mountainlairand two locations at Health Sciences - Market and Pylons. Faculty, staff and students can learn more about WVU Day of Giving, make a gift and grab a Flying WV cookie. Students can also keep an eye out for Musket, the plush dog, during a special scavenger hunt happening on both the Downtown and Health Sciences areas of campus during the same hours. Students who find Musket can bring him to one of the staffed tables for a prize.

First launched in 2017, WVU Day of Giving has seen more than 47,000 gifts made in support of the University.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Nevin
Associate Vice President for Communications and Donor Engagement
WVU Foundation
304-284-4056; [email protected]

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