Purdue Day of Giving celebration features 'Saturday Night Live' star and writer

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — As part of the fourth annual Purdue Day of Giving on Wednesday (April 26), “Saturday Night Live” cast member Vanessa Bayer and writer Anna Drezen will take the stage with a free comedy show.

The show is open to the public, and it will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Purdue University’s Elliott Hall of Music. To secure priority seating, visit purdue.edu/comedy. The doors will open at 7 p.m.

Bayer has been a recurring cast member for seven seasons of “SNL,” and she is known for her popular characters “Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy” and pitchwoman “Becky.” She also has appeared in recent feature films including “Trainwreck” and “Office Christmas Party.” In addition to being a writer for “SNL,” Drezen is the editor-at-large for the female-oriented political satire magazine “Reductress.”

This year, Purdue Day of Giving unites students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, retirees and friends with the theme “All Together” to grant opportunities in a 24-hour online, social media-driven fundraising effort to support the university and its programs.

Purdue has earned the record for most dollars raised for higher education through a single-day campaign for two consecutive years. Last year, Purdue’s third annual Day of Giving raised a record $18.3 million from 12,872 donations in 24 hours.

“The comedy show is designed to celebrate Purdue Day of Giving and thank the entire Purdue family and community for supporting the university and providing a more affordable education for students,” says Kate Jolly, director of digital fundraising and Purdue Day of Giving project manager for the University Development Office.

 More than 33 hourly challenges will keep Purdue’s 62 participating academic and non-academic programs competing for cash prizes to add to the impact of donations. Challenges include largest single donation, most parent donors, most alumni donors of the last decade, donation from person living farthest from campus and random Purdue Day of Giving selfie.

A competition specifically for student organizations will engage more than 100 participating organizations in a friendly rivalry and the chance for cash prizes.

Other events during Purdue Day of Giving include:

* 8:30-10:30 a.m. College of Education Dead Week Treat. Students can stop by the Beering Hall lobby and share the College of Education’s link on Facebook or Twitter for free breakfast.

* 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. College of Health and Human Sciences Command Central activities.

 * 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. College of Agriculture’s “Write a Note. Get a Donut” invites ag students to stop by the Pfendler Hall lobby and write a thank you note for Purdue Day of Giving donors.

 * 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mechanical Engineering race cars. The Mini Baja, Formula, and Electric Formula cars will be on display on the Engineering Mall. Teams will be on site to answer questions and talk about upcoming competitions.

* 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. PMO Student Event. Free HotBox pizza lunch at Bailey Hall is available for all PMO students.

* 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Science Purdue Day of Giving Celebration. Students will be outside of Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry to snap photos with #PurdueScience celebrities, sign thank you cards for donors, enjoy sweet treats, and receive College of Science SWAG.

* 12:30 to 2 p.m. Krannert School of Management Backyard Barbecue. Krannert will host a backyard barbecue on the lawn behind Rawls Hall, featuring free food, free Kona Ice, bounce houses, games, music, and more. Krannert Dean David Hummels will compete in a bounce house obstacle course against a Krannert student leader at 1 p.m., if Krannert raises $150,000 by noon.

* A complete list of the day's activities is available at Giving.Purdue.edu/PDOGEvents. This is being continuously updated with new events as details become available.

Those wanting to donate on Purdue Day of Giving will have several options:

* Online at DayOfGiving.purdue.edu.

* Toll-free by phone at 800-319-2199.

More information about Purdue Day of Giving is available online at dayofgiving.purdue.edu.

Source: Kate Jolly, kajolly@prf.org

Contact: Grant Flora, 765-494-7566, gflora@purdue.edu