Purdue Day of Giving raises record $13.7 million in 24 hours; largest total for single-day campaign in higher ed
April 30, 2015
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Purdue President Mitch Daniels on Wednesday (April 29) rides the zip line in Ross-Ade Stadium during Boiler Bash, an event held to thank Purdue students and the university community for supporting Purdue Day of Giving. (Purdue University photo/Charles Jischke) |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue’s second annual Day of Giving, which ran midnight to midnight on Wednesday (April 29), netted $13,695,951 from 9,592 donations — surpassing last year’s $7.5 million total and setting a record for most dollars raised for higher education through a single-day campaign. The fundraising event also set Purdue records for number of donations received and number of countries represented.
Purdue Day of Giving is a 24-hour online, social-media-driven effort that supports the university and its programs. This year, alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends made gifts ranging from the minimum $10 to $2 million, directing their contributions to any of 45 participating units and programs, including the Purdue Scholarship Fund. All money raised for the fund will be distributed to students’ financial aid packages in the 2015-16 academic year.
“In two years, our Day of Giving has gone from an intriguing experiment to a proven success, this year going international in a big way,” said President Mitch Daniels. "Thanks to those whose creativity and participation have reconnected thousands of Boilermakers with the university in this most positive of ways."
Donations came in from all 50 states and from 37 countries, including Colombia, Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia and China. Just 15 countries were represented last year. This year’s participants made 3,075 more donations than last year.
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Anna Ye, a junior in industrial engineering, writes a message on a chalk wall set up to allow the Purdue community to personalize their experience at the university by completing the phrase “Purdue has given me the opportunity to …” (Purdue University photo/Charles Jischke) |
Social media impressions tied to Purdue Day of Giving - specifically, exposures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram through posts and social sharing - totaled 19.5 million.
Throughout the day, 23 different hourly challenges inspired donors to give back and boost their favorite campus, college, school, program or unit’s chances to receive cash prizes. In addition, a competition designed just for student organizations engaged 100 participating organizations in the chance to win cash prizes.
"While I am constantly inspired and impressed by the way the Purdue family comes together in support of the university, today I stand in awe,” said Amy Noah, vice president for development. "We entered the day with a bold sense of what we could accomplish, but we ended up making history. We are truly grateful to all of our students, parents, faculty and staff, alumni and friends for their extraordinary commitment to Purdue, its students and its future.”
The first "Boiler Bash,” co-hosted by the University Development Office and Purdue Athletics, was held from 4-8 p.m. at Ross-Ade Stadium to thank students and the Purdue family for their involvement in the day, said Amber Turner, director of donor relations and Purdue Day of Giving project manager for the University Development Office. The event featured a zip line, inflatables, live music, food and an opportunity for students to mingle with President Daniels and other campus and community leaders.
For more information on Purdue Day of Giving, see DayofGiving.purdue.edu. A list of the hourly-challenge winners is at https://dayofgiving.purdue.edu/leaderboards/.
More information on donating to Purdue can be found at http://www.purdue.edu/giving/.
Sources: Amy Noah, arnoah@purdue.edu
Mitch Daniels, president@purdue.edu
