The UMW community came together to take part in the third annual Mary Wash Giving Day, a 24-hour online fundraising event to benefit students and programs across the University. The day’s final donation total—after all online and offline gifts were counted—exceeded $600,000.
Donors from 45 states and nine countries, including alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends of the University, made more than 4,000 gifts on Giving Day, surpassing the goal of 3,500. These results broke last year’s Giving Day record and represented a 34% increase in gifts and a 33% increase in dollars raised.
Alumni and students spanning 77 classes, from the Class of 1945 to the Class of 2022, gave back on March 19, paying it forward to the next generation of Mary Washington students. The University’s most recent graduates, the Class of 2018, topped the leaderboard for the most Giving Day donors by class year. In a remarkable display of support for UMW’s mission, 870 donors made their first-ever gift to Mary Washington on Giving Day.
The success of the day, which benefited academic programs, the arts, athletics, cultural programming, scholarships, student services and more, would not have been possible without the contributions of more than 400 Giving Day Ambassadors. These individuals, including alumni and other supporters near and far, volunteered to help spread the word about #MaryWashDay on social media. Through unique referral links shared with friends, classmates and family, Ambassadors inspired more than 950 gifts totaling nearly $66,000.
The dollars raised on Giving Day are already hard at work benefiting students and strengthening programs across the University. Those interested in supporting UMW’s mission – to deliver a topnotch liberal arts and sciences education with dynamic, hands-on learning experiences rich in research and citizenship opportunities, in a diverse, inclusive environment – don’t have to wait until next spring’s fourth annual event. Make a gift today by clicking the GIVE NOW button at top.
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