UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Tuesday, Dec. 3, marked the fifth year that Penn State participated in #GivingTuesday, the national day to celebrate the power of giving back — and alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends supported the effort in record numbers. On Dec. 2 and 3, areas across the University received more than $710,000 and garnered more than 7,600 gifts.
“The outpouring of support from the Penn State family this #GivingTuesday is a powerful example of the impact we can have when we work together,” said O. Richard Bundy III, vice president for development and alumni relations. “Penn Staters care passionately about this University, and these gifts are a resounding vote of confidence in our continued bright future.”
Gifts made on Dec. 2 and 3 benefited more than 90 featured campaigns to promote scholarships, research and programs across Penn State. Among participating units, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics led the effort, with contributions to the Levi Lamb Fund totaling $81,832 from more than 280 donors. In terms of total gifts, other top-performing campaigns included the Penn State Blue Band Legacy Fund (250), the Student Emergency Assistance Fund at Penn State Abington (182), the Penn State Alumni Association Blue & White Society Fund (151), and the Textbook and Educational Resources Endowment (144).
Separately, the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON) hosted its own fundraising effort with a matching gift from Johnson & Johnson, contributing 2,476 gifts to Penn State’s fundraising totals for the day.
Among those giving back on #GivingTuesday were a large number of young alumni. Graduates of the last decade (GOLD) who supported an official #GivingTuesday campaign with a gift of $5 or more secured a 1:1 match from Penn State, up to $100. More than 400 GOLD donors rose to the challenge, generating a total impact of more than $15,000.
Twenty-three Penn State student groups also engaged in fundraising efforts to support their organizations, together raising more than $30,000 from 600 gifts. Club Gymnastics led the way in number of gifts (131), while Penn State Crew Club raised the highest total among the participating student groups ($5,780).
Campaign updates and campus events were shared throughout the day on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the official hashtag, #PSUGivingTue.
“Once again, Penn Staters from around the world have come together to support a range of worthy causes, encourage our students and advance our University,” said Jenny Daigle Benoit, Penn State’s executive director for annual giving. “In this season of giving, we can all take pride in how the Penn State community is creating a brighter future for us all.”
Gifts made on #GivingTuesday 2019 will advance "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence," a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.