Newman University will hold it’s first-ever Giving Day on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
The dedicated day of giving will be unique in its opportunity for donors to support what they’re passionate about at Newman.
Donors will be able to choose whether their gift goes directly to athletics, fine arts, the new School of Catholic Studies or the Newman Fund, which supports student scholarships.
Director of Alumni and Campus Events Laura Hartley said, “We wanted to give our supporters a chance to give to Newman in specific ways.”
Donations of all sizes are appreciated; from $5 to $1,000, it all makes a difference for Newman University. Hartley’s main goal is to gain more new donors than ever before — no matter how much they give.
Hartley is spearheading the event and is excited for participants to have fun throughout the day. She and the university’s advancement team have come up with ways to keep the whole day exciting.
Contests throughout the day will include:
- Where in the World are the Jets? The first person to donate from each state or country will receive a Newman car decal to show their Jet pride. Individuals donating from outside of Kansas are asked to post on social media with the hashtag #givetonewman along with their location.
- The Lucky ’86: In honor of Newman’s 86th anniversary, the lucky 86th donor of the day will receive an additional $250 to the fund of their choice, courtesy of a generous anonymous donor.
- Happy Hour: Donations received between 5 and 6 p.m. will be entered into a drawing at the end of the hour with the winner receiving an additional $250 for the fund of their choosing, courtesy of a generous anonymous donor.
“The best ideas come by learning from others so some of our ideas came from researching other schools to see what they have done,” Hartley said. “Others we just thought would be fun, like our ‘Throwback Time’ contest where you post pictures of yourself from your time at Newman. The university has gone through a lot of changes and I am excited to see those changes through those pictures.”
She said she is most excited about the “Where in the World are the Jets?” contest.
“I am excited to see where some of our supporters and alumni are. I would love to see some donations from outside the USA.”
Hartley is hoping to attract 300 donors on Giving Day and encourages donors to participate in the many different contests and activities throughout the day.
“We want people to understand that every little bit helps. Their contribution is important and appreciated no matter what the size. The overall goal is to bring the Newman community together, share Jet pride and raise money for the areas of campus that donors are passionate about.”
