Purdue's inaugural Day of Giving raises $7.5 million

May 1, 2014  


CoT Day of Giving

The College of Technology Development Office set up shop in the lobby of Knoy Hall Wednesday (April 30) for the first Purdue Day of Giving. Students were invited to stop by, talk about the "Opportunity Granted" for them at Purdue and get a treat. (Purdue University photo) Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University received $7.5 million from 6,500 donations during its first Day of Giving on Wednesday (April 30).

The Purdue Day of Giving was a 24-hour, online and social media event that focused on student affordability and accessibility, among other areas. The day's theme was "Opportunity Granted."

Gifts ranged from $10 to more than $1 million. Donors included long-time benefactors along with students, staff and recent graduates new to philanthropy. The online event drew contributors from 15 countries – including China, Australia and Uzbekistan – and all 50 states. Some donors honored family members or favorite professors with their gifts.

"We at Purdue are truly grateful to all of our students, parents, faculty and staff, alumni, and friends who made our first Day of Giving such a success," said Amy Noah, vice president for development. "The Boilermaker family came together in a powerful way, and their gifts will help Purdue pursue extraordinary opportunities for innovation, achievement and growth while keeping an affordable education within reach of our students."

More than $454,000 in donations to the President's Student Affordability and Accessibility Fund received a dollar-for- dollar match, accounting for more than $908,000 of the total. The fund provides scholarships for Indiana students in need of financial support.

"The donor who offered that match inspired some of our faculty and staff to offer matching dollars of their own to colleagues who contributed to their particular department," Noah said. "That's an extraordinary show of commitment to Purdue and its future."

Among students who donated to Purdue through the Day of Giving was Barnard Mondal, who will graduate this month with a degree in civil engineering and begin graduate work at Purdue in the fall.

Mondal is from the Science Bound program, which mentors Indianapolis Public Schools students in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines and offers them a Purdue scholarship for meeting goals.

"Purdue has given me more through academic, social and professional experiences than I have given to the school monetarily or could ever give in any way," Mondal said. "Education opens opportunities for individuals to change their lives and the lives around them. I wanted to give because I want to see other students have the opportunities I have been privileged to have through Purdue."

Mondal, who made a $100 donation, is a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis.

More information on donating to Purdue can be found at http://www.purdue.edu/giving/.

Related infomation:

Photo Gallery: http://purdue.photoshelter.com/gallery/Day-of-Giving/G0000Pg5tpsMxdOg
YouTube: http://youtu.be/u_ty7-NL9MQ

Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu

Sources:  Amy Noah, 765-496-2144, arnoah@prf.org

Barnard Mondal, bmondal@purdue.edu

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