Rising to the Challenge: 2020 Day of Giving
Dickinsonians come together to raise over $1.3 million during 2020 Day of Giving
When challenges arise, Dickinsonians rise to meet them. Never has that been more evident than during this year’s Day of Giving. At a time of national and global crisis, Dickinsonians around the world came together to help ensure that the college’s enduring mission continues, and to help fortify the college’s efforts to support vulnerable students and the campus community in light of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The event inspired more than 3,000 gifts totaling over $1.3 million, which is a new fundraising record for the Day of Giving—and gifts are still being counted! Of that total, over $670,000 went to the Emergency Response Fund to support Dickinson’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, over $225,000 went to support the Dickinson Fund, over $140,000 went to scholarships and over $60,000 went to the McAndrews Fund for Athletics.
The Day of Giving is a 24-hour campaign to support giving to Dickinson. This year, in response to the ongoing public-health emergency, the college created an additional funding option: an emergency response fund to support an increased number of vulnerable students and offset other unexpected immediate expenses incurred by Dickinson’s response to the spread of COVID-19.
Dickinson’s decision to move forward with this year’s Day of Giving crystalized in response to an outpouring of support from our alumni, who—as Dickinson joined individuals and institutions around the world who acted swiftly this spring to help safeguard the health and safety of the greater community—came forward last month to ask how they could help.
The success of this historic Day of Giving wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of alumni who led the way by building on and amplifying the generosity of fellow Dickinsonians. Speaking to alumni via video recorded at her campus home, President Margee Ensign explained why these efforts make a profound difference not only on campus but throughout the world.
"At this critical time, more than ever, the world needs the graduates that Dickinson produce—students we are preparing for lives of leadership and service. And we’ve been doing this for 237 years,” she said. “Thank you, alums.”
Thank You, Day of Giving Volunteers
The day would not have been such a success without the dedication of our more than 300 volunteers. Dickinson thanks those alumni, students, parents and coaches who advocated for Dickinson and encouraged fellow Dickinsonians to join them in this effort.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published April 7, 2020