The University of Central Arkansas will kick off its inaugural UCA Day of Giving campaign on Thursday, March 19 from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Everyone is encouraged to participate. “We are challenging all alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and even current students to give to UCA on March 19,” Haley Fowler, director of annual giving, announced.
A single day of giving has become popular across college campuses. Social media, videos and email will be used to update donors throughout the day and to create excitement about the event. The goal is to raise $11,698 dollars on March 19.
“We set our goal to honor each of the 11,698 students enrolled at UCA,” said Fowler.
Shelley Mehl, vice president for Institutional Advancement, noted, “Every gift counts. We have two donors who will each match dollar for dollar every gift we raise up to $5,500 for a total match of $11,000.” Donors can give online at uca.edu/go/dayofgiving or by calling 501-450-5859. Money raised from the Day of Giving will fund emergency student scholarships.
Emergency student scholarships are one-time scholarships given to students who find themselves in dire straits. “We annually budget for emergency scholarships, however, every year the need is different,” Mehl said. “For example, a student’s parents divorced and she had to move home to take care of her younger sisters and her mother, who was suffering from depression. Her father was to continue to pay for her education, but he failed to support her. She turned to the emergency scholarship fund to assist with her final semester.”
“In another instance, a student’s father passed away suddenly. The student found herself working two jobs, taking out loans and still not having enough money for college. She received a one-time emergency scholarship.”
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