The Newman University Campus will be buzzing during its second annual Giving Day.
Director of Alumni and Campus Events Laura Hartley and the Giving Day committee have spent hours planning a day of excitement for the event, which is important not only because of the money it can raise but also for the engagement and recognition it will bring to the university.
Giving Day Feb. 25 is held to celebrate being a Jet and also involves alumni and community members doing activities with the ultimate goal of raising money for the university. Since it is held during Heritage Month, the day fittingly celebrates the history and traditions of Newman University as well.
Donors can choose specific areas of campus to support. Areas listed on the Giving Day website include athletics, fine arts, student affairs, campus ministry, any of the five academic schools and the Newman fund.
There is a Giving Day schedule of activities, some virtual and some on-campus, as well as challenges throughout the entire day.
Giving Day is sponsored by local small business favorite, The Spice Merchant.
Giving Day Schedule
6 a.m.
President Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., will address the Newman community and officially begin the day in a video on the Newman University Facebook page.
7:30 a.m.
A live performance from the Newman Cheer & Dance team on the Newman University Facebook page will kick off Giving Day.
9 a.m.
The student Giving Day booth opens at 9 a.m. in Eck Hall. Staff, faculty and representatives from the Adorers of the Blood of Christ will be at the booth to pass out muffins and let students spin the Wheel of Prizes to win Newman swag or free food from Chick-fil-A, Sonic or the Mabee Dining Center.
Students will be encouraged to give to their favorite area of campus (any amount counts). Those who give will be entered into a drawing for prizes such as a $50 Apple gift card, wireless earphones and a reserved parking spot in front of Eck Hall for a month.
The booth closes at 2 p.m.
9 a.m.
Tour McNeil Hall with Angela McCoy, assistant director of the MBA and degree completion program. Peek into the past while following along on a tour of the old residence hall, which now serves as faculty offices. The tour will be given by McCoy on Facebook live.
11 a.m.
The art department will host a game of Win Lose or Draw live. Director of Steckline Art Gallery Shannon Johnston will be joined by art students for the live broadcast on the Newman University Facebook page.
2 p.m.
Athletics will hold a contest in the gym.
7 p.m.
President Kathleen S. Jagger, Ph.D., and her husband Jim will play the newlywed game on Facebook live.
All Day
Throughout the day, members of the Sloppy Joes Improv Troupe will go live on Facebook for “Jets on the Street” where they will pick random members of the Newman community to answer trivia questions.
For each right answer, our sponsor, The Spice Merchant, will donate $100.
Challenges
Throughout the day there will be challenges for specific populations.
- 1933 Young Alumni Challenge: For Newman alumni who graduated in 2015 or after. The challenge is to give just $19.33 which represents the year Newman University was founded. Those who donate will be entered into a drawing for two free tickets to the biggest Newman party of the year, Party on the Plaza, on Sept. 18, 2021.
- Fine Arts Fund Challenge: If the fine arts fund reaches $4,000, Director of Theatre Mark Mannette, Director of the Music Department Deanne Zoglemann and Director of Steckline Gallery Shannon Johnston will wear cartoon or Disney character costumes to work and classes for a whole day.
- The Lucky 87: In honor of our 87th anniversary, the 87th donor of the day will receive a gift basket of Newman swag and an extra $250 will be donated by The Spice Merchant to the same fund that the 87th donation was given to.
- The Ultimate Jets Fan: Everyone who donates to the athletics fund will be entered into a drawing for two free passes into all home games for the 2021/2022 school year.
- If Campus Ministry raises $2,000, University Chaplain Father Adam will do a TikTok video with the Newman Cheer and Dance team.
There will be a command center on campus with student volunteers from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in order to help the day run smoothly. Students will be manning donations through the phone.
