UCA President Houston Davis announces that the seventh annual Day of Giving raised $717,095 during a special celebration held Friday. The school set an all-time record of participation as 2,023 donors from 43 states and Canada participated in the campaign, marking a 21% increase over last year’s number of donors.
The University of Central Arkansas set an all-time record of participation as 2,023 donors contributed to the success of its seventh annual Day of Giving campaign held on Thursday, March 11. This marks a 21% increase over last year’s number of donors.
Donors from 43 states and Canada helped to raise $717,095 during the 24-hour fundraising campaign.
UCA President Houston Davis announced the news today during a special Day of Giving celebration.
“Regardless of the challenges of the day, our mission continues,” said Davis. “Now more than ever, private dollars provide a lifeline to students who are struggling financially. Our donors are changing students’ lives and making a tremendous impact on communities across the state and the region.”
The 2021 Day of Giving theme, When You Give, We Grow, emphasized how individual gifts, no matter the size, add up to tremendous impact. Focusing on participation, alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends were challenged to make a gift of any amount to support the campus.
Friday’s socially distanced celebration featured the Association of Future Alumni students, members of the UCA Bear Marching Band drumline and to-go boxed lunches for campus partners and donors. Food for the celebration was provided by Centennial Bank.
Through social media, email campaigns, phone calls and other communications, more than 70 campus and community ambassadors joined together to encourage giving at every level.
“Our Day of Giving ambassadors were phenomenal,” said Haley Fowler, senior director of Annual Giving. “They really put in the hours and hard work necessary to help make the event a success. We couldn’t do it without them.”
Funds raised during Day of Giving support a wide range of needs including student scholarships, state-of-the-art equipment, student and faculty research and experiential learning opportunities that equip our students to be leaders in the regional and global economies.
In support of Day of Giving, the Student Government Association hosted a fundraising table in the Student Center to encourage student participation and raise awareness of the impact that private dollars can have on their education.
The SGA also provided a 100% matching gift for the first $4,000 in student donations. The matching gift will support the Emergency Student Scholarship Fund and the International Global Community Fund through the UCA Foundation.
Numerous other departments identified challenge matches that were unlocked for Day of Giving. The following donors pledged a matching challenge to benefit a variety of funds: Jim Bunyard, Mike Hernandez, Rebecca Mills, Mar Mosley, Jeremy Owoh, Karen L. Sullards, Robert Toney and Tammy Woosley (College of Education); Stephen Addison (College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics); Larry Middleton (Annual Fund); Conway Area Chamber of Commerce; Conway Development Corporation; and Edafio Technology (Conductor).
“As we move toward the public launch of our comprehensive capital fundraising campaign, Day of Giving becomes an even more important part of our fundraising success,” said Mary Bane Lackie, vice president of University Advancement. “In addition to raising private support for students, the event helps expand our giving base and establish relationships with new donors.”
Since its inception in 2015, UCA’s combined annual Day of Giving efforts have raised more than $3.1 million in impact for students and programs, establishing the university as a leader in the state for Day of Giving efforts.
UCA is one of the state’s first higher education institutions to hold a 24-hour fundraising campaign in 2021.
To see more details about the results and the breakdown of individual funds, visit uca.edu/dayofgiving.
