Mary Wash Day

Mary Wash Day Support Powers Scholarships, Programs, and Possibilities

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Betty Olander Adams ’69 began giving to Mary Washington soon after she graduated. It was one of the best ways, she said, to let her alma mater know what mattered to her as an alum.

UMW students with the Happy Mary Wash Day sign outside the Cedric Rucker University Center.
The University of Mary Washington will hold its ninth annual Mary Wash Day, a 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, starting at noon on Wednesday, March 25, and concluding at noon on Thursday, March 26.

“Personally, I fund scholarships so that every student will have the chance to have a meaningful future,” said Betty, who earned a bachelor’s degree in history and later became a lawyer. “Each and every person connected to the University, no matter their age or stage in life, can make a difference to continue the excellence of a Mary Washington education.”

This Mary Wash Day, Betty is encouraging members of the UMW community to give to whatever matters most to them on March 25 and 26, from noon to noon. When 100 first-time donors make their first-ever gift, she’ll unlock $10,000 for the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington. She’s also sponsoring a $5,000 match to the General Scholarship Fund, helping students in need stay in school, take on less debt, and graduate on time.

Now in its ninth year, Mary Wash Day unites Eagles across the country and the globe in a 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement that gives alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students the chance to come #TogetherUMW and share their love for Mary Washington.

Alumni and friends have sponsored more than $700,000 in challenges and matches in 2026. Their commitment will double and even triple the impact of each gift, helping the University reach its goal of 2,500 donor gifts, 1,200 alumni contributors, and 400 first-time donors.

Participation challenges and dollar-for-dollar matches support the Fund for Mary Washington, underpinning every aspect for which the University is known and loved. This includes ensuring a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, and personal relationships with professors and peers, and supporting projects and initiatives led by students, faculty, and staff through the Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant program.

Gifts on Mary Wash Day to Friends of Athletics or to a specific sports program like UMW Basketball 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 Carly Rehberg.
Mary Wash Day gifts help students have experiences both inside and beyond the classroom that prepare them for their careers and lives after Mary Washington. Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.
Mary Wash Day gifts provide high-impact learning experiences such as undergraduate research and opportunities for students to work alongside their professors and peers.
Contributions to UMW Music 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, UMW Philharmonic, Gari Melchers Home and Studio, the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, and the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series.
Many challenges and matches support the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington, which underpins every aspect for which the University is known and loved. This includes ensuring a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, and personal relationships with professors and peers.

Supporters can also contribute to student scholarships, academic departments, athletics, arts and culture, service and leadership opportunities, campus beautification, and more. This year’s goals include:

  • 1,010 gifts (celebrating President Troy Paino’s 10th year at Mary Washington) will unlock $10,000 from Marty Wilder ’80 and UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80
  • 1,908 gifts (the University’s founding year) will unlock $50,000 from Jenny Fankhauser Osterman ’73
  • 2,500 gifts will unlock $100,000 from Diane Harvey Smith ’74
  • When 200 first-time donors contribute, the Alumni Association Board of Directors will unlock $14,000
  • When 400 new donors make their first-ever gift, the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees will unlock $47,500
  • When 300 young alumni donate, the Young Alumni Council will unlock $3,800
  • When 500 gifts are made by parents of UMW students or parents of alumni, Bill and Carolyn Carpenter, parents of a current student, will unlock a $10,000 gift
  • When 1,200 alumni donors make gifts, it will unlock a $100,000 gift from a loyal Fund for Mary Washington supporter

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of a uniquely UMW tradition, UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Mike Charnoff ’95 and Katherine Valentine Charnoff ’04 will sponsor a Devil-Goat contest to see which team can make the most gifts. Making Mary Wash Day gifts and participating in events will also help alumni accumulate points in the Devil-Goat Alumni Challenge, running through May.

After making a gift at givingday.umw.edu, supporters can spotlight their names and gifts on the donor wall or remain anonymous, and track progress on dynamic leaderboards.

Festivities will kick off on Wednesday, March 25 at the Mary Wash Day headquarters on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio (or inside in case of rain) from 12 to 3 p.m. with food, games, prizes, a photobooth, and stations for donations, selfies, and writing thank-you notes to donors. The UMW Pep Band will perform, and anyone who makes a gift of $5 or more can Pie It Forward – pie a faculty or staff volunteer in the face.

Mary Wash Day 2026 kicks off with a celebration for students on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio, featuring food, games, prizes, a photobooth, and stations for donations, selfies, and writing thank-you notes to donors. The UMW Pep Band will perform, and anyone who makes a gift of $5 or more can Pie It Forward – pie a faculty or staff volunteer in the face.  
UMW students will have the chance to write thank-you notes to donors and pose for photos in the photobooth at the Mary Wash Day headquarters outside the Cedric Rucker University Center on March 25 from 12 to 3 p.m.
Students pose for a photo with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle at the Mary Wash Day headquarters in 2025.

The Fredericksburg Regional Alumni Network will host a happy hour and bingo from 6 to 8 p.m. in Chandler Ballroom of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which will have its exterior lit up in Mary Washington blue lights.

Richmond area alumni can celebrate with their Regional Alumni Network and watch fundraising totals rise at Väsen Brewing’s newest location in Forest Hill from 6 to 8 p.m.

Members of the UMW community are invited to register as Mary Wash Day ambassadors and receive a customized dashboard. You+2: When you make a gift and inspire two others to give through your unique referral link, you’ll score a Mary Wash multipurpose insulated bag. Those who post on social are asked to tag @umw_alumni and @marywash and use #TogetherUMW and #MaryWashDay.

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

UMW Community Donates a Record-Breaking $1.33 Million on Mary Wash Day

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When Eagles come together, truly amazing things happen. The entire University of Mary Washington community recently demonstrated that, rallying to raise over $1.33 million on Mary Wash Day to support students, faculty, and programs.

A total of 2,565 donors helped crush participation goals, making 3,654 gifts during the 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, held April 2-3 from noon to noon. Alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students collectively unlocked hundreds of thousands of dollars in challenges and matches sponsored by generous donors, doubling and tripling the impact of each gift.

2025’s Mary Wash Day was the most successful in the event’s eight-year history, with donors giving $1.33 million to support UMW students, faculty, and programs.
Student giving more than doubled from last year’s event, and many participated in activities at the Mary Wash Day headquarters on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio on April 2. Here, two students take photos at the selfie station with a puppy brought to campus by Old Dominion Humane Society.
A student poses for a photo with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle at the Mary Wash Day headquarters on April 2.
Students made gifts to many areas across campus, such as UMW Votes, and thanked supporters for their donations on Mary Wash Day.
At the Mary Wash Day headquarters, students had the opportunity to play games and win prizes, such as an illustrated Mary Wash tote bag, UMW bento boxes, and socks decorated with iconic Mary Washington-themed images of the Bell Tower and Adirondack chairs.
Students participated in a scavenger hunt to find stuffed eagles hidden across campus and win donations to the areas of their choice, thanks to a gift by Beth Craig ’77.
The UMW Pep Band (seen here) and UMW Symfonics a cappella group performed at the Mary Wash Day headquarters on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio.

“This achievement isn’t just about surpassing a financial goal – it’s a powerful testament to the extraordinary commitment of the UMW community to invest in the University’s mission,” said Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14.

Mary Wash Day saw a 58 percent increase in giving over last year’s event and passed the million-dollar mark for the first time in Mary Wash Day’s eight-year history, she said. “This milestone shows that when Eagles unite around a shared purpose, there’s no limit to how high we can soar or what we can accomplish together.”

Donors from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as those from overseas, made gifts to 124 different areas across the University, benefiting academics, arts, athletics, service, career, and cultural programs.

The unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington, which underpins every aspect for which UMW is known and loved – a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, personal relationships with professors, and low student debt upon graduation – received the most gifts. Other popular designations included UMW Theatre, the College of Education, Women’s Basketball, Simpson Library, and the Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship, honoring the late geography professor.

“Breaking the million-dollar mark for the first time on Mary Wash Day is a truly historic moment for the University of Mary Washington,” President Troy Paino said. “These gifts directly enhance the student experience, empower our faculty, and strengthen the programs that define a Mary Washington education. We are deeply grateful, and this milestone affirms the enduring impact of our collective commitment to UMW’s future.”

Young alumni pose for photos at the happy hour and trivia night on April 2, sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Alumni Network.
Students celebrate a successful Mary Wash Day on the steps of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which was illuminated in Mary Wash blue on April 2.
Alumni of all ages gathered in the Hurley Convergence Center on the evening of April 2 for a happy hour and trivia night, sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Alumni Network.
The Jepson Science Center was illuminated in Mary Wash blue on the evening of April 2.
For the first time ever, Mary Wash Day spanned from noon to noon. UMW faculty, staff, and students enjoyed a brisk Mary Wash Day walk sponsored by Campus Recreation to kick off the morning of April 3.

Festivities kicked off with a celebration on the patio of the Cedric Rucker University Center, which served as the Mary Wash Day headquarters. Students played games, won prizes, took photos with UMW mascot Sammy D. Eagle, made gifts, and wrote thank you messages to the donors who made their Mary Washington experience possible. They also were treated to performances by the UMW Pep Band and the Symfonics a cappella group, as well as a campus-wide scavenger hunt to find stuffed eagles and win donations for the areas of their choice across the University.

The Fredericksburg Regional Alumni Network held a happy hour and trivia night that evening at the Hurley Convergence Center, and the Cedric Rucker University Center and Jepson Science Center were illuminated in Mary Wash blue. Faculty, staff, and students gathered for a brisk walk the next morning from the Anderson Center to the Bell Tower, sponsored by Campus Recreation.

Other giving highlights of Mary Wash Day include:

  • 2025 marks the first year Mary Wash Day giving has surpassed seven figures.
  • Alumni and students from almost every class year between 1948 and 2028 made a gift.
  • Student giving more than doubled from last year, and the Class of 2025 was among the top 10 classes to make the most gifts.
  • Mary Wash Day saw a 59 percent increase in first-time donors, with 649 new supporters making gifts in 2025.
  • The classes that made the most gifts (starting with the greatest amount) were 2020, 2004, 2024, 2002, and 2010.
  • The classes that raised the most funds (starting with the greatest amount) were 1973, 1968, 1969, 1971, and 1974.
  • Goats (even-year graduates) bested the Devils (odd-year graduates), with Goats making 1,082 gifts versus the Devils’ 851. The Goats also won the 99th annual Devil-Goat Day in April.
  • Giving from Friends of the University nearly doubled, with 290 making gifts in 2025.

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.

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

UMW Community Gets to the Heart of Giving Back on Mary Wash Day, April 2-3

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Justin Gerbereux ’97 met his wife, Allison Coleman Gerbereux ’96, when they were on the cross-country team together as Mary Washington students. After they fell in love and graduated, he proposed to her in front of Willard Hall, where she lived during her junior year of college.

The University of Mary Washington will hold its eighth annual Mary Wash Day, a 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, starting at noon Wednesday, April 2, and concluding at noon Thursday, April 3.
The University of Mary Washington will hold its eighth annual Mary Wash Day, a 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, starting at noon Wednesday, April 2, and concluding at noon Thursday, April 3.

“The University of Mary Washington has always held a special place in our hearts,” said Justin, who joined the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees to give back to his alma mater. “Reflecting on the many memories and opportunities available to us at this small liberal arts institution, I hope we can sow some seeds to inspire other graduates to support today’s students.”

The Gerbereuxs will give $10,000 to the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington when 100 gifts are made by married alumni couples during Mary Wash Day, running from noon Wednesday, April 2, through noon Thursday, April 3. Now in its eighth year, this 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement gives alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff, and students the chance to come #TogetherUMW and share their love of Mary Washington.

“This has the potential to be an absolutely record-breaking Mary Wash Day,” Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14 said. “Every gift, regardless of size, holds the power to create lasting impact. When combined, these contributions shape the future of UMW students, enhancing their education and empowering them to make a difference for generations to come.”

Members of the UMW community have sponsored more than $500,000 in challenges and matches, exceeding totals from previous years. Their commitment will double and even triple the impact of each gift, helping the University reach its goal of 2,500 gifts from donors, including 1,200 alumni contributors and 350 new supporters.

Many participation challenges and dollar-for-dollar matches support the Fund for Mary Washington, which underpins every aspect for which the University is known and loved, such as a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, personal relationships with professors and classmates, and more.

Last spring, $25,000 was distributed among eight campus projects and initiatives pitched by UMW students, faculty, and staff through the Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant program. More projects will be selected next month by an alumni committee to receive these donor-funded grants.

Mary Wash Day gifts help students have experiences both inside and beyond the classroom that prepare them for their careers and lives after Mary Washington, such as the ‘Are We Live?’ course in the Department of Communication and Digital Studies, which teaches students how to write, film, produce, and broadcast a weekly comedy show.
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.
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.
Mary Wash Day donations help keep UMW’s class sizes small and provide high-impact learning experiences such as undergraduate research and opportunities for students to work alongside faculty mentors.
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.
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.

Supporters can also contribute to student scholarships, academic departments, service and leadership opportunities, campus beautification, and more. This year’s goals include:

  • 540 gifts (Fredericksburg’s area code) will unlock $5,000 from Virginia Blackwell ’67 and John Rigsby
  • 1,908 gifts (UMW’s founding year) will unlock $16,000 from UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Patti Boise Kemp ’69
  • 2,500 gifts will unlock $100,000 from a longtime contributor for the Lynne Gourley Farrell ’62 Fund for Mary Washington Endowment
  • When 100 first-time alumni donors give, UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68 and husband Steve will donate $20,000
  • When 350 first-time donors give, the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees will unlock a $50,000 gift
  • UMW President Troy Paino and wife Kelly will make a $100,000 gift when 1,200 alumni donors contribute
  • A gift from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. will unlock a $10,000 gift from UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80 and Marty Wilder ’80, former chief of staff at Mary Washington
  • The Alumni Association Board of Directors and Young Alumni Council are sponsoring challenges and matches to encourage alumni of all ages to give back to their alma mater
  • UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Kourtney Whitehead and husband Terrance, parents of a UMW student, will unlock $5,000 when 500 gifts are made by parents of current students or alumni
  • UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Mike Charnoff ’95 and Katie Valentine Charnoff ’04 are sponsoring a Devil-Goat contest to encourage friendly competition between odd- and even-year graduates
  • Share the Love Challenge: When the Mary Wash Day 2025 video is shared 100 times (from the official UMW Facebook page) by midnight on April 2, Margaret Birch ’79 will donate $10,000

After making a gift at givingday.umw.edu, supporters can spotlight their names and gifts on the donor wall or remain anonymous, and track progress on dynamic leaderboards.

Festivities will kick off April 2 at the Mary Wash Day headquarters on the Cedric Rucker University Center patio (or inside in case of rain) at 11 a.m., with food, games, prizes, a photobooth, and stations for donations, selfies, and writing thank-you notes to donors. The UMW Pep Band and UMW Symfonics will perform, and students can pet and play with puppies brought by Old Dominion Humane Society.

Students can also participate in a scavenger hunt to find 10 stuffed eagles hidden across campus, which can earn a $100 donation to the area of their choice at UMW, courtesy of Beth Craig ’77.

UMW Dining will serve up a Mary Wash Day-themed menu, with frosted blue cookies and dishes named for key people and places on campus. Downtown businesses will offer discounts and incentives for donors.

The Fredericksburg Regional Alumni Network will host a happy hour and trivia night April 2 at the Hurley Convergence Center from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and the Cedric Rucker University Center and Jepson Science Center will be lit in Mary Wash blue lights.

Campus Recreation will also sponsor a Mary Wash Day walk on April 3 at 8 a.m., starting at Goolrick Hall.

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

More information about Mary Wash Day can be found on the FAQ Page. For additional questions, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at umwgift@umw.edu.

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

Mary Wash Day Celebrates Philanthropy, Engagement, and UMW Pride

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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

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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.
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