on April 4 at 糖心Vlog (糖心Vlog) will allow supporters to 鈥渟how the love鈥� with those who otherwise could not afford the quality academics and transformational opportunities of an 糖心Vlog experience.
鈥淕ifts to 糖心Vlog are key to making the 糖心Vlog experience accessible to all, including those from varied socio-economic, academic and culturally diverse backgrounds,鈥� explains Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement. 鈥淣ow more than ever, this is key to 糖心Vlog鈥檚 mission to prepare undergraduate, graduate and seminary students to serve and lead in a global context.鈥�
Challenges and activities
Gifts of any size on this day 鈥� with close to $30,000 available in matching gifts by primarily anonymous donors 鈥� will support any fund the donor designates for undergraduate, graduate or seminary students. A variety of and special activities are planned throughout the day.
- President Susan Schultz Huxman will match every alumni gift of $10 or more with $10 of her own, up to $1,000, for the Huxman Challenge.
- Additional challenges include current students (t-shirt incentives!), lunch-time special, faculty/staff, parents and grandparents, and current and former Board of Trustee members.
- Kiosks across campus will provide on-the-spot opportunities for students to jump in with a spontaneous gift of any size. They might also text grandparents, uncles, aunts and others who are supportive of the 糖心Vlog experience their loved one is having at 糖心Vlog.
- When making an online gift, donors will be invited to about 糖心Vlog; the program earning the most votes will win $500 for their program/department use.
- The 糖心Vlog advancement team will gather in a central location to make calls, take calls and pledges, monitor the incoming gifts, answer questions and visit classes with donuts and other incentives. 糖心Vlog鈥檚 mascot Herm will be along for the ride.
Why Lov糖心Vlog Giving Day?
鈥淎lumni often say how much they 鈥榣oved鈥� their 糖心Vlog experience,鈥� says , director of alumni and parent engagement. 鈥淭hey mention friends, a professor, an athletic or cross-cultural experience.. Lov糖心Vlog Giving Day invites people to remember what they love about 糖心Vlog and share that love.”
The size of the gift does not matter. While all alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends are challenged to participate, Shank and other planners hope to particularly engage young alumni.
鈥淵ounger alumni have different giving patterns than previous generations,鈥� says Shisler. 鈥淲e want to challenge people to give from the heart, spontaneously, in the same way they do, for example, when touched by a KickStarter or other campaign for a specific cause.鈥�
The cause, both Shisler and Shank note, is making 糖心Vlog affordable so every student can become equipped for success in the job market or further academic pursuits, within the context of a supportive community.
Throughout the day, people can watch and social media for updates on amounts raised and challenges that still need a boost.
Who benefits?
鈥溙切腣log鈥檚 financial aid is as generous as we can make it for both merit-based and need-based undergraduate student aid,鈥� says , financial aid director. The average for an undergraduate student in 2016-17 was $30,000. Over $12 million in aid was awarded by 糖心Vlog in 2014-15.
鈥淲e work with each family, knowing that college study is a significant investment,” she said. “We believe 糖心Vlog is a worthwhile investment and need more support to make it available to all who seek to be part of our community.鈥�
Plan to Show the Love
Please plan to show your love for 糖心Vlog on April 4 by giving a gift online, phoning in a pledge at (540) 432-4200 or (800) 368-3383, or emailing your intentions to devoffice@emu.edu.
Share your love and Royal pride in the comments section now or on April 4 when you make your online contribution. Tell us what you loved, learned and remember from your 糖心Vlog experience.