That’s a wrap! Donors to the University of Mary Washington gave more than $215,000, based on preliminary totals, in support of the UMW student experience during 2023’s Giving Tuesday celebration on Nov. 28.
Members of the Mary Washington community – including alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students – gathered together for the 24-hour event to #MakeItPossible on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, contributing 575 gifts to areas across the University.
Nearly 300 alumni made gifts, helping to unlock more than $45,000 in matching and challenge funds from generous donors, inspiring others to give and maximizing the impact of each gift.
“I’m always amazed at the way our Mary Washington family comes together for students on Giving Tuesday year after year,” said Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14. “Their enthusiastic support is a testament to their generosity and belief in UMW’s mission.”
The following challenges and matches were met in full on Giving Tuesday:
- $12,500 match from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund for gifts of $500 or less to the Fund for Mary Washington
- $10,000 challenge gift from Mary T. Bradley MacPherson ’71 after 200 gifts were made in November to the Beyond the Classroom Endowment, a College of Arts and Sciences initiative, which focused on student study abroad this year
- $5,000 match for the College of Business from the COB Executive Advisory Board
- $5,000 match for the Veterans Endowment from Brian ’84 and Erma Baker ’82
- $5,000 match for the General Scholarship Fund from Alec and Betty Olander Adams ’69
Ryan Donaldson ’14 donated in honor of his former roommate, who had served in the military. “I’d like to make it easier for veterans like him to go to college,” he said.
Ryan’s gift of $19.08 also earned him the opportunity to name a campus squirrel after his current roommate as an early Christmas gift. More than 200 donors gave squirrels fun names like Henrietta Minerva Nutkin, Sir Donald Edward Fluffington, Sammy T. Squirrel, and Ms. Zippy Chatternut, receiving a digital certificate with their chosen name.
Alumni were also invited to make gifts in honor or in memory of the person who made their Mary Washington experience a special one. Beth Unklesbay ’74 paid homage to Karen Laino Giannuzzi ’71 – they’re both part of a small group of female retired military officers – whom she met almost five decades after leaving Mary Washington.
“From the beginning of our newfound friendship, Karen has been an enthusiastic advocate for our alma mater,” Beth said. “I credit her with bringing me back into the UMW fold.”
To learn more about the #GivingTuesday totals, please visit givingday.umw.edu/makeitpossible.
– Article by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04