Philanthropy showcases WKU community for Giving Tuesday
December 4, 2018
Each year following Thanksgiving, there is Black Friday, Cyber Monday and more recently, Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday is a nationally celebrated holiday that takes place every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. WKU has been celebrating Giving Tuesday for five years by hosting events to raise money for various projects and scholarship funds.
Coordinator of Student & Young Alumni Engagement Allie Sharp said that this year, the WKU Student Alumni Ambassadors chose to hold their philanthropy week following Thanksgiving break to work in conjunction with Giving Tuesday.
โItโs been a blast seeing them plan and execute different events and projects for the week, including on Giving Tuesday,โ Sharp said. โTheir goal is to raise funds for their Student Assistance Fund, their new scholarship initiative here at WKU.โ
This year, Giving Tuesday raised $118,127.57. Gunn said the event also saw almost 31.38 percent increase in the number of gifts, 16.91 percent increase of individual donors, and 151.85 percent increase of new donors.
WKU Student Alumni Ambassador Matthew Holl found that Giving Tuesday is about more than just the actual fundraising.
โDuring our Student Alumni Ambassadors Philanthropy Week, we are using Giving Tuesday as a way for our organization to fundraise, educate, and engage students on giving back,โ Holl said.
Holl said that the group is excited to give back to WKU through various events held throughout the week, including a Donuts for Donors event and a spirit day at Donatoโs Pizza.
Giving Tuesday operated through events, but also through its constantly growing social media presence.
Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving Aarika Gunn emphasized the role of social media in fundraising for Giving Tuesday, describing the efforts that students, staff and donors put into getting the word out there.
โWe continue to grow our social presence and this year will be no exception,โ Gunn said. โWe are encouraging donors to share their support on social media on Giving Tuesday by posting about why you give back to WKU.โ
This ever growing public presence is in part why WKUโs Giving Tuesday success has steadily grown each year, with last yearโs event bringing in contributions from over 400 donors.
โThe most rewarding part of the experience is educating and engaging students on the impact they can make by donating to the Student Assistance Fund for fellow students,โ Holl said.
For Gunn, itโs about even more than giving back to the university. Itโs also about making sure that students attending WKU feel supported. Since so many campus resources and scholarships are made possible by private donations from WKU alumni and supporters, Gunn said she hopes Giving Tuesday events will find that they are supported by the WKU community, even those who have already graduated in sharing โHilltopper prideโ through the fundraiser.
โI think some of our students donโt realize that the university would have to close its doors halfway through the year if it wasnโt for private support โ thatโs crazy,โ Sharp said. โWithout our donors, WKU wouldnโt be as amazing as it is today. And even if you canโt give, just saying a simple โthank youโ to those who did makes such a big impact.โ
Features reporter Julie Sisler can be reached at 270-745-6291 and julie.sisler389@topper.wku.edu. Follow Julie on social media at @julie_sisler.