Kyree Ford ’21 and Nancy Pham ’19 show thanks to donors on UMW Giving Day. Suzanne Carr Rossi ’00 photo.
The UMW family, across the country and around the world, came together to make history on Mary Wash Giving Day, March 19.
During the 24-hour online fundraising marathon, donors in 45 states and nine countries made 4,000-plus gifts totaling more than $600,000 to benefit students and programs across the university, including the arts, academics, athletics, student life, and scholarships. Each gift helps to ensure a strong future for Mary Washington and its students, continuing a tradition of dynamic donor support for the 111-year-old institution.
Donors exceeded the day’s lofty goal of 3,500 gifts and topped last year’s results, breaking the record for the largest day of giving in UMW history. On Giving Day in March 2018, supporters made 2,987 gifts totaling $449,631.
Challenges and matches, unlocking extra funding when milestones were met throughout the day – themed “All In” – also grew this year. Challenges sponsored by alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and friends of the university offered more than $200,000 in matching funds to expand the impact of each gift. The day’s focus was to encourage participation regardless of one’s ability to make sizable gifts.