ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ 24-Hour Giving Day Set for March 22
Posted on March 19, 2018
Itβs time to give and #WeAreSouthProud will be the theme for the energized inaugural 24-hour βGiving Dayβ fundraising campaign at the University of South Alabama.
The ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Office of Development is asking everyone to make their online gifts from 12 a.m.-11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, via the South Alabama website at www.southalabama.edu/giveday.
βWe are going to bring everyone together for one day of giving. Itβs going to be powerful and meaningful for South,β noted Margaret Sullivan, vice president for development and alumni relations. βRaising money for the University is the obvious point of having this event. But, more importantly, we want everyone to participate and give whatever they can. It could be $5, $500 or $5,000 or more. We invite everyone to give on this one day to support South Alabama.β
All ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ campuses will participate, including the main campus, Baldwin County campus and ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Health, including the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Physicians Group, ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Medical Center, ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Childrenβs & Womenβs Hospital and the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Mitchell Cancer Institute.
"We are all, regardless of what jobs we do, working together to elevate the University," said Dr. Tony Waldrop, University president. "This day of giving is a way for you to share your support of ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ by giving to something at the University that is important to you."
When making the desired gifts, donors will be able to choose and give to the following four areas:
- Student Success
- Excellence in Health Care
- Athletics
- MacQueen Alumni Center
The vice president of the Student Government Association at South and a recipient of several scholarships, biomedical sciences major Elizabeth Hernandez of Hayden, Ala., fully understands the need for a day of giving.
βGiving to South is important because we are a quickly growing university that provides quality to many,β she said. βBy sacrificing a cup of coffee today, your donation of $5 could be matched and potentially provide scholarship opportunities to students here at South Alabama.β
Hernandez is currently a Whiddon Honors Scholar, and she received the Graciela G. Blanco Scholarship from the modern and classical languages and literature department in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dr. James W. Green Pre-Med Scholarship and the T.G. Jackson Scholarship from the Zeta Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Society.
βWhen I graduate in May, the scholarships will have given me the opportunity to attend college debt-free,β she said. βThis is what giving can do to help students who are in need of financial support.β
These specific ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Giving Day matching gifts and challenges have been created:
- Dr. Michael Finan, director of the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Mitchell Cancer Institute, and Dr. Lewis K. Pannell, professor of oncologic services, are making a combined $100,000 pledge to the MCI Fund for Excellence and will match all gifts to MCI up to $100,000;
- ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ National Alumni Association will match gifts to the Julian and Kim MacQueen Alumni Center up to $100,000;
- Gifts to the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Medical Alumni Association will be matched up to $10,000;
- Gifts to The Southerners will be matched up to $500;
- Gifts to STAT (Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow) will be matched up to $200;
- Gifts to the ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Black Alumni Society will be matched up to $250; and
- Gifts to the new Jon Lieber Baseball Clubhouse will be matched up to $31,350, thanks to matching gifts from Skipper Walters and John Bassett.
Sullivan said dedicated giving days are popular around the country with other universities having great success in building engagement and support. Individuals who would like to support South Alabama on March 22 are encouraged to give and then post the hashtag #WeAreSouthProud on social media.
βWhat we know is there is an excitement around South Alabama,β Sullivan said. βThe community appreciates South and South needs the community. Thereβs no amount too small. We invite everyone to engage and give.β
