UMW Community Raises a Record-Breaking $1.34 Million on Mary Wash Day

Cameron Gittings, a senior psychology major and neuroscience minor, is grateful for all the generous gifts made by University of Mary Washington supporters. For Mary Wash Day, she was invited to take over the University’s Instagram account, creating posts and sharing videos that gave donors a glimpse into the fun and hard work that made the 2026 event the most successful ever.

“The appreciation we feel for our donors and the opportunities they provide students like me is something words truly cannot express,” said Cameron, a UMW Student Alumni Ambassador who also helped coordinate activities at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters and the alumni bingo game. “It was so much fun to show everything happening behind-the scenes of this huge event and to encourage everyone to give.”

UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle and students (clockwise from top right) Cameron Gittings ’27, Allison Olivar ’27, Sophie Hubbard ’26 (the Office of Annual Giving’s digital media and marketing intern), Jo Lent ’28, and Zoe Mueller ’26. Cameron, Allison, Jo, and Zoe are also Student Alumni Ambassadors and helped coordinate student and alumni activities for the 2026 Mary Wash Day. K Pearlman Photography

Students showed up wearing their Mary Wash gear, ready to thank donors for their generosity. K Pearlman Photography.

Students wrote messages expressing gratitude to donors for their Mary Wash Day donations. K Pearlman Photography.

Students played Mary Wash trivia games and won prizes like UMW socks, playing cards, and bento boxes at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters. K Pearlman Photography.

UMW’s Pep Band treated students to a performance at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio. K Pearlman Photography.

Students – and their dogs – turned up at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters to take photos, make gifts, and write thank you notes to their donors. K Pearlman Photography.

UMW students pose with the Mary Wash Day sign in front of the Cedric Rucker University Center. K Pearlman Photography.

The entire Mary Washington community helped crush participation goals throughout the 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, with $1,347,438 raised to support UMW students, faculty, and programs. A total of 2,577 donors made 3,579 gifts during the ninth annual event, held March 25 to 26 from noon to noon, benefiting 135 different areas across the University, including academics, arts, athletics, service, career, and cultural programs.

Alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students unlocked over $800,000 in challenges and matches sponsored by generous donors. Their collective efforts doubled and even tripled the impact of each gift, making a Mary Washington education more accessible and affordable for students.

“Reaching this milestone reflects far more than financial success,” said Executive Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14. She noted that giving from parents of alumni and from current faculty more than doubled from last year, while friend giving saw an increase in dollar amounts and gift counts over 2025. “It highlights the UMW community’s deep dedication to supporting and strengthening the University’s mission.”

The unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington received the most funds, which will help the University continue to provide students access to a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, personal relationships with professors, and low student debt upon graduation.

Other popular designations included Friends of Belmont, UMW Theatre, the Soccer Complex Fund, Men’s and Women’s Tennis and Lacrosse, the Geography Alumni Scholarship, and the College of Business’ Bloomberg Lab Fund.

Students posed for photos with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle at the Mary Wash Day student headquarters at the Cedric Rucker University Center. K Pearlman Photography.

Mary Wash Day festivities kicked off on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio, where students could play games, win Mary Washington-themed prizes, write thank you notes to donors, take photos, and make donations. K Pearlman Photography.

UMW women’s lacrosse players pose for a photo after making a $5 donation to pie faculty, staff, and student volunteers in the face. K Pearlman Photography.

Students had the opportunity to pie UMW faculty, staff, and student volunteers in the face after making a $5 donation on Mary Wash Day. K Pearlman Photography.

Students enjoyed Mary Wash Day-themed treats made by UMW Dining. K Pearlman Photography.

The Richmond Alumni Regional Network (seen here) hosted a happy hour at Väsen Brewing in Forest Hill, while the Fredericksburg Alumni Regional Network hosted a bingo game in the Cedric Rucker University Center’s Chandler Ballroom.

While Devils (those who graduate in odd years) earned the most points during the 100th anniversary celebration of Devil-Goat Day in April, Goats (those who graduate in even years) made the most contributions during Mary Wash Day, with 939 gifts to the Devils’ 781 donations. As the Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge wraps up this week, alumni are encouraged to report their giving and engagement to help Team Devil and Team Goat. The winning team will be announced Saturday at the all-class party during Reunion Weekend.

Mary Wash Day festivities kicked off with a celebration on the patio of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which served as the student headquarters. Students played games, won prizes, took photos with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle, made gifts, and wrote thank you notes to the donors who made their Mary Washington education possible. They also were treated to a UMW Pep Band performance and gave $5 donations to pie faculty, staff, and student volunteers in the face.

In the evening, the Alumni Regional Networks in Fredericksburg and Richmond held celebrations. The following day, President Paino recorded a message of gratitude and preliminary totals with Mary Washington graduates across the generations who gathered at an alumni event in Cary, North Carolina.

Mary Wash Day highlights include:

• 2026 marks the second year Mary Wash Day surpassed the million-dollar mark.
• Alumni and students from almost every class year since 1950 made gifts.
• Giving by friends of Mary Washington increased 5% in dollars raised and 8% in gift count from 2025.
• Giving by parents of alumni increased 53% from 2025.
• Giving by current faculty increased 56% from 2025.
• The classes that made the most gifts were 2004, 2014, 2025, 1994, and 1982.
• The classes that raised the most funds were 1971, 1969, 1974, 1984, and 1977.
• The classes with the most donors were 2020, 2025, 2024, 2010, and 2017.

If you missed Mary Wash Day or want to support UMW students even more, there’s still time. The University’s giving year ends on June 30, and online gifts can be made at umw.edu/gift.

-This article was written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04