Giving Day

It All Adds Up

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Giving Day Match Increased Support for James Farmer Multicultural Center.

Three Mary Washington diplomas are centered on a wall behind a desk in Ashburn, Virginia. Jacob Sapp ’04, MBA ’08 and Kelly Sapp ’08 are proud of their connections to Mary Washington and Fredericksburg, and they remain engaged and supportive of university priorities.

For Mary Wash Giving Day held April 13, 2021, the couple matched gifts made to the James Farmer Multicultural Center (JFMC). The Sapp Match was dollar-for-dollar, up to $2,500, in support of underrepresented students and the JFMC’s diversity, inclusion, and social justice programs. The match was so well received, the couple increased the match to $5,000.

“Recent news events made Kelly and I more aware of social injustice, so we looked for ways to get involved and to set an example for our children and others,” says Jacob. “We discovered that programming offered through the James Farmer Multicultural Center supports success, while inspiring students to become leaders in their fields and to advocate for social justice.”

Jacob grew up in Fredericksburg and excelled in math. He completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration – and with a professional reference from Professor and Associate Dean Ken Machande – soon landed his first job for a federal contractor in Dahlgren.

He married Kelly in 2006 and began taking graduate courses toward a master’s degree in business administration. In a serendipitous twist, Jacob received his MBA diploma and Kelly received her diploma for a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the same commencement ceremony in May 2008.

Today, Jacob is Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for ASRC Federal, a federal government aerospace and defense contractor. Twice, he has participated in career chats to offer advice and perspective to UMW students based on his 17 years of business experience. He also serves on the James Farmer Circle to help promote a fundraising initiative named in honor of UMW’s late Distinguished Professor of History and American Studies.

“Kelly and I have a lot of respect for Mary Washington,” says Jacob. “We feel this is one way we can help increase awareness and make things a little bit better.” The couple initially made a donation in 2020. Their matching gift added additional support for JFMC programming, while doubling the impact of gifts from other donors.

To learn more about the James Farmer Multicultural Center, visit students.umw.edu/multicultural.

 

 

Giving Day Brings UMW ‘All Together’ on April 13

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There’s no time like spring at the University of Mary Washington, and there’s no day like Giving Day. Mary Wash Giving Day returns this year on April 13, and the University community near and far – alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends – is invited to join the celebration.

This year’s theme, #AllTogetherUMW, serves as a reminder of what can be accomplished when supporters join forces for a common purpose: to benefit students through funding for academic, athletic, arts, leadership, service, career and cultural programs. And this year’s goal — 3,000 gifts to areas across the University during the 24-hour online event — emphasizes each donor’s impact on the student experience.

Also known as “Mary Wash Day,” the initiative has grown exponentially since its 2017 inception, and with 2020’s event canceled amidst the growing pandemic, UMW’s Annual Giving team is pulling out all the stops this year. Dynamic leaderboards, matching funds and social media challenges will add to the excitement as the day’s progress is tracked live.

The University has benefited from strong private support for more than a century, and donors’ gifts have provided an essential boost throughout the past year. As student need grows and UMW adapts to a rapidly changing world, Giving Day gifts are more valuable than ever. On the Mary Wash Giving Day website, on April 13, donors will be able to provide direct financial assistance to students through the General Scholarship Fund or the Technology Assistance Fund, or support the University’s most pressing needs through the Fund for Mary Washington. Gifts will strengthen diversity and inclusion initiatives, and bolster campus preservation, student life, and other areas that define the UMW difference.

In addition to marking the calendar for April 13, the Mary Washington community is asked to help spread the word on social media by tagging their posts with #AllTogetherUMW and #MaryWashDay. In 2019, more than 300 Giving Day Ambassadors inspired more than 1,000 additional gifts by posting and sharing. Anyone can sign up as a Giving Day ambassador, and receive access to a custom dashboard and toolkit, at givingday.umw.edu.

Visit the FAQ page for more information about Mary Wash Giving Day.

Mary Wash Giving Day is March 19

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The University of Mary Washington is asking alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends to go ‘all in” for its third annual giving day on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

On Mary Wash Giving Day, also known as #MaryWashDay, donors can make gifts to areas across the University from midnight to 11:59 p.m. at givingday.umw.edu. Challenges and matches funded by generous donors will be “unlocked” throughout the day, multiplying the impact of each gift. The University has set a goal of 3,500 gifts, topping last year’s Giving Day tally of 2,987 gifts totaling more than $449,000. On March 19, each gift will be tracked on dynamic leaderboards on the site, providing real-time updates on progress toward the participation goal.

This year’s theme of “All in” reflects the collective nature of Giving Day and the passion of Mary Washington students, who go all in as scholars, leaders, and engaged community members. Gifts made during the 24-hour celebration will benefit students by providing funding for academic, athletic, arts, leadership, service, career, and cultural programs. Donors who wish to support the University’s areas of greatest need are asked to make a gift to the Fund for Mary Washington.

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