Purdue Day of Giving shatters its own record, raising $18.3 million in 24-hour higher-ed campaign

Purdue Day of Giving was topped off Wednesday evening with Boiler Bash, a student celebration co-hosted by the University Development Office and the Purdue Foundation Student Board. Here, two students engage in a Zorb ball race. (Purdue University photo)  Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue’s third annual Day of Giving lived up to its “Bigger and Better” theme, raising a record $18.3 million from 12,872 donations in 24 hours - and claiming, for the second year running, the record for most dollars raised for higher education through a single-day campaign.

The dollar total surpasses last year’s $13.7 million by 33 percent and more than doubles the $7.5 million total achieved in 2014. This year’s giving day also set Purdue records for number of donations received, number of gifts from international donors and number of countries represented. Additionally, the day saw a marked increase in student participation.

The online, social-media-driven event ran from midnight to midnight on Wednesday (April 27), spurring Purdue alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends, as well as corporations and foundations, to contribute to colleges, schools, programs or student organizations of their choosing. The 12,872 donations made this year outstripped last year’s total by 3,280. Gifts made to the Purdue Scholarship Fund received a 1-to-1 match.

“Once again, Purdue Day of Giving has become a showcase for Boilermakers' loyalty, generosity and sense of shared responsibility,” said Purdue President Mitch Daniels. “The increase in involvement from students and our international alumni and friends makes this year’s results especially significant. Thanks to Boilermakers worldwide for making a world of difference.”

Donations came in from all 50 states and from 44 countries (up from 37 last year), including China, India, Belgium, Nigeria, Colombia and Fiji. The number of gifts from international donors increased by 60 percent over last year.

University Development Office staffers react to rising numbers during the Purdue Day of Giving on Wednesday (April 27). The day-long event generated more than 12,000 donations and raised a record $18.3 million. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons)  Download Photo

An expanded student presence characterized the day. The student organization challenge included 41 more participating groups than in 2015 - each competing for cash prizes based on the greatest number of gifts secured. In addition, Purdue Pay It Forward, a new initiative introduced by the Purdue Foundation Student Board, encouraged student donations.

Among students who donated to Purdue through the giving day was Jacob Tebbe, PFSB president and a first-year professional student in the College of Pharmacy.

“For Purdue Day of Giving, I chose to give a gift to the number-one pharmacy college in the nation,” said Tebbe. “The Purdue College of Pharmacy has given so much to me, providing me with a premier education, limitless opportunities, and a close-knit family to support me throughout my college career. I could not be happier to give back to the college and support student giving and philanthropy toward a university that is always making strides to champion innovation and ultimately become ‘Bigger and Better.’”

Throughout the day, 35 online hourly challenges engaged Purdue’s participating academic and non-academic units in friendly rivalries by inspiring donors to give back and boost their favorite campus, college, school or program in order to receive cash prizes. Social media impressions tied to Purdue Day of Giving, including exposures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram through posts and social sharing, rose to 24 million from last year’s 19.5 million.

For alumnus Steve Dale, the high caliber of Purdue’s College of Agriculture and his desire to offer educational opportunities to others motivated him to endow the Steve and Mary Jane Dale Scholarship for agriculture students on Purdue Day of Giving.

“Purdue’s reputation is known everywhere,” said Dale. “I feel I wouldn’t have had the professional opportunities I’ve had if it weren’t for Purdue.” Dale received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Purdue in 1968.

“The Purdue family continues to amaze me in new ways by coming together to support our university’s students and programs,” said Amy Noah, vice president for development. “When we chose the theme ‘Bigger and Better’ for this year’s Purdue Day of Giving, we wanted to surpass the amount raised last year and, even more important, the number of gifts made. Our Purdue family stepped up and made it happen. We are ever grateful to all of our students, parents, faculty and staff, alumni and friends around the world for investing in a Purdue-powered future.”

For more information on Purdue Day of Giving and a list of the hourly-challenge winners, see DayofGiving.purdue.edu. 

Contact: Lisa Tally, 765-494-2181, lisat@purdue.edu 

Sources: Amy Noah, arnoah@prf.org

Mitch Daniels, president@purdue.edu 

YouTube video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNyJWcV4P0M&feature=youtu.be