Mary Wash Day

Mary Wash Day Celebrates Philanthropy, Engagement, and UMW Pride

March 28, 2024 Leave a Comment

When life threw Christine Exley ’09 a challenge during her senior year of college, University of Mary Washington friends and faculty got her through it.

“I was so excited for the next phase of my life, then everything was turned upside down,” said Christine, who praised the support she found at UMW after she was diagnosed with a condition that causes progressive blindness. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in economics at Stanford University and became an associate professor at Harvard Business School and at the University of Michigan, where she currently teaches economics.

On Mary Wash Day, held one week from today, Christine is challenging fellow 2000s graduates to give to the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington, which underpins every aspect of the UMW experience. Each gift will help students take giant leaps intellectually, socially, and personally, just as Christine did. She and UMW Executive Director of Development Beth Waters Hunsinger ’01 will match donations from $5 to $250 to the Fund, up to $2,000, on Thursday, April 4.

Mary Wash Day donations help keep UMW’s class sizes small and provide undergraduate research opportunities for students to work alongside faculty mentors. Here, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Ranjit Singh speaks one on one with junior Shadwick Yoder, a political science major and environmental sustainability minor.

Service and volunteer experiences give UMW students the chance to make a difference on campus and in the community while exploring leadership roles and potential careers. Here, junior Celia Golden spreads mulch on Good Neighbor Day. Gifts on Mary Wash Day support COAR and the Center for Community Engagement, the James Farmer Multicultural Center, and other entities that provide meaningful experiences for students. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Donations on Mary Wash Day to Friends of Athletics or to a specific sports program provide critical support to help enhance the UMW student-athlete experience, supporting recruiting, professional development and training, team travel, athletic facilities, equipment and uniforms, and more. Here, senior UMW Men’s Basketball guard Cameron McCravy holds off a player on the opposing team. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Gifts on Mary Wash Day support student scholarships and help UMW students make groundbreaking discoveries in their fields. Here, junior Rachel Walker, who earned the Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59 and James D. Rodgers Student Research Fellowship II, conducts hands-on research in the Jepson Science Center. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Contributions to UMW Theatre on Mary Wash Day will help students learn to create plays and musicals that encourage conversations with their audience. Here, senior Maddie Baylor performs in Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express.’ Gifts can also be made to UMW Galleries, UMW Philharmonic, Gari Melchers Home and Studio, the James Monroe Museum, and the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series. Photo by Geoff Greene.

Generous alumni, families, friends, faculty and staff have stepped up this year to sponsor more than $400,000 in challenges and matches, exceeding totals from previous years, Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14 said. Their commitment will double and even triple the impact of each gift, she said, helping the University reach its goal of 2,500 gifts from 1,000 alumni donors and 250 new supporters in 2024.

Challenges and matches support the Fund for Mary Washington, student scholarships, academic departments, leadership and service organizations, arts and athletics, campus beautification, and more. Goals include:

540 gifts (Fredericksburg’s area code) will unlock a $5,000 gift from Virginia Blackwell ’67 and John Rigsby
1,908 gifts (UMW’s founding year) will result in a $6,000 donation from Mary Louise Holmes ’97
2,500 gifts will unlock $100,000 from an anonymous donor to establish a scholarship in memory of Elizabeth Carolyn Vaughan Pritchett ’46
If gifts are made from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80 and former UMW Chief of Staff Marty Wilder ’80 will donate $6,000
When 1,000 alumni make a gift, Steve and Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68 will give $10,000
When 250 gifts are made from first-time donors, Patti Boise Kemp ’69 will give $15,000 for student scholarships
When 50 young alumni donate to UMW for the first time, Matt ’19 and Sarah Balenger Good ’19 will give $1,000
When 100 gifts are made by Mary Washington alumni married to other alumni, Rob ’93 and Dodie Denison Whitt ’95 will donate $5,000
Kourtney and Terrance Whitehead, parents of two UMW students, will unlock a $5,000 gift when 450 gifts are made by parents of current students or parents of alumni
In honor of their 50th Reunion, the Class of 1974 Reunion Committee is sponsoring a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $7,000

In addition, a Devil-Goat contest sponsored by Mike ’95 and Katie Valentine Charnoff ’04 will encourage friendly competition between odd- and even-year graduates. Valerie Parks ’80, Susan Leavitt ’83, Abas ’85 and Eileen Brown Adenan ’88, and Mary Helen Dellinger ’90 will each sponsor an Eagle power hour, energizing the UMW community to donate at various points throughout the day.

After making a gift at givingday.umw.edu, supporters can spotlight their names and gifts on the donor wall or remain anonymous, as well as track progress on dynamic leaderboards. Participants can also engage in events hosted throughout the day by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement and campus partners.

Festivities kick off at 7:30 a.m. with a “grab and go” breakfast for faculty and staff on the steps of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which will later become a student headquarters with games, prizes, photobooths, and stations for donations, selfies, and thank you notes. UMW Dining will also have a Mary Wash Day themed menu.

Rob '93 and Dodie Denison Whitt '95 (seen here with daughter Emily, a 2023 graduate, at Homecoming last October) are sponsoring a challenge for Mary Washington alumni who are married to fellow alumni. When 100 gifts are made by alumni couples, the Whitts will unlock a $5,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington. Photo by Karen Pearlman. — Rob ’93 and Dodie Denison Whitt ’95 (seen here with daughter Emily, a 2023 graduate, at Homecoming last October) are sponsoring a challenge for Mary Washington alumni who are married to fellow alumni. When 100 gifts are made by alumni couples, the Whitts will unlock a $5,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Students will have the opportunity to answer trivia in the Eagle Cash Cart and snag a rubber eagle from the fountain in front of Monroe Hall. They can also find 10 stuffed eagles hidden on campus to earn a chance to win $100 to designate to the area of their choice, courtesy of Patti Boise Kemp ’69.

As the sun begins to set, blue lights will illuminate the Cedric Rucker University Center in honor of UMW’s primary color. Local alumni can participate in a happy hour at Rey Azteca in Eagle Village, followed by trivia at Adventure Brewing, led by Alumni Association board member Karmel James ’13. Richmond residents are invited to a happy hour garden party hosted by Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Eric Gable and the Richmond Alumni Regional Network. Register at alumni.umw.edu/events.

Members of the UMW community are also encouraged to sign up as Mary Wash Day ambassadors. They’ll receive a customized dashboard and social media toolkit to inspire others to contribute, as well as a chance to receive an exclusive UMW bento box. Those who post on social are asked to tag @umw_alumni and @marywash and use #TogetherUMW and #UMWAlumni.

Browse areas of support and make your gift April 4 on the Mary Wash Day website. More information about Mary Wash Day can be found on the FAQ Page.

-Article written by Associate Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04

Seventh Annual Mary Wash Day Brings #TogetherUMW, April 4

March 5, 2024 Leave a Comment

UMW graduates Matt and Sarah Balenger Good ’19 land on the exact same word to describe their experience at the University of Mary Washington, where they met, fell in love, and earned degrees in political science and psychology, respectively.

“It was more impactful than I could have ever imagined,” said Sarah, who was on UMW’s Honor Council all four years, becoming its president as a senior, and currently works in autism services. Matt, who followed the same track in the Student Government Association and is now employed in public safety, agrees. “I wouldn’t be who or where I am today without Mary Washington.”

The seventh annual Mary Wash Day will be held April 4 with the theme of #TogetherUMW. The 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement supports UMW students, faculty, and programs.

On Mary Wash Day, the couple is sponsoring a challenge to inspire graduates from the last decade to make their first-ever gift to their alma mater on Thursday, April 4, a day celebrating all contributions to the University. “We want to ensure that students today have the experiences we had and that young alumni get involved at Mary Washington,” Sarah said.

Eagles everywhere are encouraged to show off their Mary Wash pride during the 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, now in its seventh year, enjoying fun and festivities while making a difference in the lives of students for generations to come.

With a theme of #TogetherUMW, the event unites the entire Mary Washington community in support of students and faculty, as well as academic, arts, athletics, leadership, service, career, and cultural programs. Donors will have the chance to give to more than 80 different areas across the University.

After exceeding expectations last year with a grand total of $621,528 raised, UMW is striving toward a goal of 2,500 gifts from 1,000 alumni donors and 250 new supporters in 2024.

“These funds help Mary Washington continue to provide a public liberal arts and sciences education filled with impactful learning opportunities to current and future UMW students,” said Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14. Every gift made on Mary Wash Day – regardless of size – has the potential of doubling and even tripling its impact, thanks to more than $400,000 in challenges and matches sponsored by generous donors, she said.

Mary Wash Day donations help keep UMW’s class sizes small and provide undergraduate research opportunities for students to work alongside UMW faculty mentors. Here, Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Science Pamela Grothe ’06 teaches a course exploring sedimentation.

Gifts on Mary Wash Day to Friends of Athletics or to a specific sports program provide critical support to help enhance the UMW student-athlete experience. Contributions fund athletic facilities, competition travel, professional development opportunities, custom-training equipment, and more. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Service and volunteer experiences give UMW students the chance to make a difference on campus and in the community while exploring leadership roles and potential careers. Gifts on Mary Wash Day support COAR and the Center for Community Engagement, the James Farmer Multicultural Center, the Gwen Hale Resource Center, and other entities that provide valuable and meaningful experiences for students.

Contributions to the UMW Philharmonic on Mary Wash Day help students explore their musical passions while providing arts and cultural experiences for the greater Fredericksburg community. Gifts can also be made to UMW Theatre, UMW Galleries, Gari Melchers Home and Studio, the James Monroe Museum, and the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Mary Wash Day helps students who participate in campus clubs, organizations, and other activities, such as UMW’s Esports team, pursue interests outside of class while building relationships with their peers.

Gifts can be made on the Mary Wash Day website April 4 to support the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington, which helps UMW’s leadership meet emerging student, faculty, and program opportunities. Supporters can also give to other key areas of need, such as the General Scholarship Fund, the Technology Assistance Fund, and initiatives to bolster campus preservation and diversity and inclusion.

In addition to tracking progress through dynamic online leaderboards, new events and activities planned by UMW’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement and campus partners will build momentum and excitement leading up to and throughout the day.

Festivities kick off with a faculty and staff “grab and go” breakfast on the steps of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which will double as a student headquarters with thank you note, selfie, and donation stations; games and prizes; and more. UMW Dining will host a Mary Wash Day lunch with themed cookies for the occasion.

Students can participate in a scavenger hunt to find stuffed eagles planted across campus, catch a ride and answer UMW trivia in the Eagle Cash Cart, or snag a rubber eagle from the fountain in front of Monroe Hall.

That evening, the Cedric Rucker University Center will be lit in Mary Wash Day blue. Fredericksburg area alumni can join in a happy hour at Rey Azteca in Eagle Village, followed by trivia (in person and via Zoom) in the Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium, led by Alumni Association board member Karmel James ’13. Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Eric Gable will host a happy hour garden party for the Richmond Alumni Regional Network.

Alumni can also request a brand new UMW pet bowtie through an online form and are encouraged to post pictures of their dapper dogs, chic cats, trendy turtles, and other animal friends with the tags #MaryWashDay and #UMWAlumni.

Members of the UMW community are invited to serve as Mary Wash Day ambassadors to inspire others to contribute. Anyone can sign up to receive access to a customized dashboard and toolkit.

More information about Mary Wash Day can be found on the FAQ Page. To sponsor a challenge or match, please contact Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14 at sorlando@umw.edu or (540) 654-1361.

-Article written by Associate Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04

UMW Reports Record-Breaking $21.3 Million Raised in 2022-23

August 16, 2023 Leave a Comment

The University of Mary Washington closed the books June 30 on its most successful fundraising year to date, with $21,362,093 in gifts and pledges – more than triple last year’s number – made during the 2022-23 fiscal year to enhance the UMW student experience.

The University of Mary Washington announces its most successful fundraising year to date, with $21.3 million raised in 2022-23 to support UMW students, programs, faculty, and staff.

Private support from 4,829 generous donors, more than half of whom are alumni, helped Mary Washington continue its commitment to providing students with an outstanding public liberal arts and sciences education filled with impactful learning opportunities. Gifts benefited 301 areas across the University, including academics, arts, athletics, service and leadership initiatives, career services, and cultural programs.

“We are so grateful to the many new and longtime supporters across the UMW community, and I am thrilled to thank them all for our most successful fiscal year ever,” said President Troy Paino. “Our alumni, friends, families, students, faculty, and staff give generously and invest in this institution. These funds will be a critical piece of our ongoing efforts to recruit, retain, and graduate successful Mary Washington students.”

This year’s grand total was bolstered by a portion of a transformational $30 million gift from alumna Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59, who passed away in July 2022, leaving the largest donation in Mary Washington’s 115-year history. Rodgers’ gift, which will be paid out over multiple years, exponentially grows UMW’s undergraduate research program in the sciences. The gift also creates four new Alvey Scholarships, providing full tuition, fees, and room and board for out-of-state students for up to four years, adding to the eight already created by Rodgers.

Making a UMW education accessible and affordable remains a major priority at Mary Washington, with 790 scholarships and awards, totaling more than $2.1 million, given to 550 students in this fiscal year. Fifteen scholarships were awarded for the first time, including the Class of 1966 Scholarship and the Class of 1973 50th Reunion Scholarship, which illustrate the investment alumni continue to make in their alma mater and its students. Five incoming students have been awarded full-ride Alvey or Washington scholarships (for in-state students) for the coming academic year.

Recently recognized as a “Top Employer for Interns” by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership, the University announced in April the William H. Leighty ’78 and Martha Kearns Leighty ’75 Fellows Program. The couple, who are both former Board of Visitors members (Bill also served as chief of staff to two Virginia governors), made a $100,000 philanthropic commitment to the program to support UMW juniors and seniors in pursuit of public service internships in the commonwealth.

“This year’s success is due to the dedicated alumni, friends, families, students, faculty, and staff who make the University of Mary Washington a priority in their philanthropic giving,” said Vice President for Advancement Katie Turcotte. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity of every donor and for their devotion to supporting UMW students, programs, faculty, and staff.”

Other 2022-23 highlights include:

The entire UMW community came together on April 4th’s Mary Wash Day, a high-energy celebration of school spirit, with alumni and friends sponsoring 52 challenges and matches to help raise $621,528 in 24 hours to support students, faculty, and programs.
Alumni donors spanning 84 years made gifts in FY23, totaling $10,135,909.
Current and former faculty and staff donors contributed $430,206 in FY23.
President Paino and his cabinet endowed the Charles Coleman Service Award for staff who demonstrate dedication to UMW and a concern for others. The first award went to Student Life Case Manager Betsy Southern, who served as COVID care coordinator during the pandemic.
UMW dedicated several spaces on campus, including the Weatherly Wing, the Mason Team Room and the Leigh Frackelton Classroom and Gibbons Team Room.

Donors also helped UMW reach its halfway mark of $500,000 for Beyond the Classroom, an initiative that supports undergraduate experiential learning such as independent research, study abroad, and internships. While BTC is already helping current students enhance their academic experience, the long-term goal is to create a $1 million endowment to generate tens of thousands of dollars for students each year.

The unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington received $687,052 in gifts and pledges, as well as a $2.2 million estate distribution to the Lynne Gourley Farrell ’62 Fund for Mary Washington Endowment, helping UMW address its most pressing needs.

This year also marked a full return to in-person advancement events that spotlight the power of philanthropy, including the Celebration of Giving and the Donor Appreciation Luncheon and Student Showcase. More than 3,100 alumni participated in regional network and affinity group gatherings, presidential events, Mary Talks, UMW Alumni on the Road trips, Homecoming, and Reunion Weekend, which saw over 850 alumni return to campus to celebrate their milestone years in June.

“I’m so impressed and energized by Mary Washington graduates who support their alma mater through their engagement, as well as the alumni team and volunteers who put each of our exceptional alumni events together,” Turcotte said. “We look forward to seeing even more of you in the future, and if you haven’t been back to campus in a while, we hope you’ll visit soon.”

Make a gift for FY24, which runs from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. To learn more about giving options, please contact the Office of University Advancement at advance@umw.edu or 540-654-1024. Explore upcoming Mary Washington alumni events.

-Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04

Why I Give: Shaun McBride ’22

March 14, 2023 Leave a Comment

Shaun McBride set the stage, saving up for his generous gift weeks before the University of Mary Washington’s Giving Day last year. Shaun, then a senior at Mary Washington, woke up that morning, grabbed his credit card, and donated $1,000 to UMW’s Department of Theatre and Dance.

“I was nurtured by our incredible faculty and staff,” said Shaun, a theatre major and arts administration minor who mastered aspects of his craft at Mary Washington, including acting, running the box office, and managing the house.

Shaun’s donation contributed to the more than $55,000 that UMW Theatre raised that day through its Take the Stage With Us Challenge. He hopes to inspire others to give to the theatre department, and other areas across the University, on the sixth annual Mary Wash Giving Day, which will be held on Tuesday, April 4. With a theme of #TogetherUMW, the entire Mary Washington community is invited to take part in the 24-hour event, raising funds to support students and programs.

“We see Mary Wash Day as a celebration of who we are, what we do, and what we can achieve together,” said Jon Reynolds ’07, UMW Theatre’s director of marketing and audience services.

Shaun served as the narrator in UMW Theatre's production ofThe Rocky Horror Show in November 2022. — Shaun served as the narrator in UMW Theatre’s production of
The Rocky Horror Show in November 2022.

Making the gift was a “pay-it-forward” moment for Shaun, who earned the Albert R. Klein Memorial, Edward Alvey Jr., and Lee Wingate Pappandreou ’40 scholarships, which helped cover the cost of tuition and made his future more attainable, he said. An aspiring theatre teacher, he’s now pursuing a master’s degree and PreK-12 licensure through UMW’s College of Education.

“Shaun’s curiosity and joy are an inspiration,” Theatre Department Chair Gregg Stull ’82 said. “His passion, skill, and empathy will create an amazing space for his students to learn and grow.”

Shaun’s penchant for performing began in Amherst, Virginia, where he appeared in school pageants, community theatre, and show choir. “I had teachers who encouraged me to break out of my shell and pursue a career that I loved,” he said.

At Mary Washington, he found the same kind of support from classmates and faculty members like Stull, Helen Housley, and Cate Brewer. He also served as a resident assistant and joined PRISM and UMW’s NAACP chapter.

Cast as Friar Francis in Much Ado About Nothing, Shaun prepared to take the stage for the first time in college, but even rehearsals couldn’t have prepared him for the production’s online pivot due to the pandemic. Still, UMW Theatre persevered, and so did he, embracing new technologies, virtual classes, and pertinent projects. “It gave me the motivation and optimism to keep moving forward,” he said of his role in organizing UMW Theatre’s archives.

Live performances returned for Shaun’s senior year, giving him the chance to be involved in all four productions, including serving as assistant to the director for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. “It made my heart happy,” Shaun said. “It was truly gratifying.”

So was his decision to make his Giving Day donation, Shaun said. “I want to help other students have the same incredible experience at UMW that I did.”

Shaun on UMW Theatre's New York City trip in 2022. — Shaun on UMW Theatre’s New York City trip in 2022.

Q: What would you say to encourage donors to give to UMW Theatre on Giving Day on April 4?
A: Your gifts can help the Department of Theatre and Dance continue to offer students the same supportive atmosphere that I found at Mary Washington. UMW students know they can always call on a faculty or staff member for advice, to seek their opinions, or even for just a laugh. You can help students by funding scholarships, internship assistance, production opportunities, and much more.

Q: What’s your favorite place on campus?
A: I’ve made so many happy memories at Klein Theatre. But the new theatre (set to break ground in 2024) will offer better accessibility and empower the feeling of community on campus. It’s important that those who create art have facilities that support student growth.

Q: What’s your most meaningful Mary Wash memory?
A: The opening of the first show I ever directed in Studio 115. The play was White, by James Ijames, about a white gay artist who hires a black actress to portray the creator of his painting so that the work will be accepted into a prestigious exhibit featuring artists of color. I had the immense pleasure of working with talented students to design, act, and produce this show in our black box theatre. It was an unforgettable experience that will help define my career.

Learn more about Mary Wash Day.

This story originally ran in the Advancing Mary Washington newsletter and was written by Assistant Director of Advancing Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04.

Giving to Mary Washington

Mary Wash Day