SPCS joins #URHere Giving Day to raise support for scholarships & student services
By Julia Straka, ’21
On April 11, 2019, University of Richmond will host its first ever, campus-wide giving day, though the event will actually last 36 hours. From noon on April 10 until midnight April 11, the university will be asking for contributions to support its various programs. Even though the University of Richmond has a diverse and international student body with alumni dispersed across the globe, by supporting the university, UR Here together with your fellow Spiders.
Donors can support any aspect of the University of Richmond, from its academics and athletics to its many organizations dedicated to student life, health, and well-being. Rather than going to capital campaigns for building and expansion, gifts will go towards annual funds, scholarships, emergency funds, and programs. Donating to the UR Here for Today and Tomorrow fund, for example, will help support current and future Spiders by funding offices like Career Services, Financial Aid, and Sustainability.
Donors can also sign up to be UR Here Champions of any school, department, or program by using the links provided in the event’s social media toolkit. Champions can set fundraising goals, write about why they support that particular area, and share personalized giving links. The social media toolkit also includes other tips and links to successfully share UR Here with your network.
Donors can support working professionals returning to school or those seeking professional and personal development by giving to the SPCS Annual Fund. This fund subsidizes scholarships, academic programs, and student development programs, like professional speaker series, study abroad opportunities, professional and academic conferences, and artist-in-residencies. The school’s Dean’s Ambassadors Circle (DAC) has introduced a challenge to promote donations and maximize contributions: it has pledged to give $8,500 to the SPCS Annual Fund after the first 50 participants contribute any amount to the fund.
In celebration of the fundraiser, SPCS will be hosting Spiders & Hops at Kindred Spirit Brewing from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on April 11. The event will include refreshments, games, door prizes, a complimentary brewery tour, and live music by Damien Allen. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will help fund scholarships for SPCS students.
Most importantly, gifts made to SPCS, and other areas of University of Richmond during UR Here Giving Day will go to good causes: program expansion and scholarship funds. The crowdfunding event’s goal is to promote a regular culture of support and fundraising engagement at the university. Read more about the effect of SPCS scholarships on continuing education students here.
UR Here will also serve as an opportunity to celebrate the university’s generous patrons, like the anonymous donor who recently gave $100,000 to SPCS. The donor is a UR alum, and maintains a close relationship with SPCS. He says his motivation was to provide deserving students in need with opportunities and to celebrate the school’s impact on the local community. The school is deeply thankful to this anonymous donor for their philanthropy and humility.