Written by: Sierra Ureta
The Southern Adventist University community will unite once again for an annual fundraising blitz that has raised more than $1 million for university projects in recent years.
The two-day Giving Day event will be held today and Thursday with a variety of activities to encourage alumni, employees, students and other university supporters to donate to the academic departments of their choice over a 28-hour period.
The fundraiser will begin today with donuts for students on the promenade from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. It will end Thursday with a grand finale block party from noon to 1 p.m. in the lower parking lot of the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists.
“We need faculty, students, alumni and friends to all come together over a few hours to fund these campus projects,” said Vice President for Advancement Ellen Hostetler in an interview with the Accent. “But with everything going on in our lives, it’s easy to forget to give or to forget to tell your friend. So, we have events planned around campus all day Wednesday up until our after party on Thursday to remind everyone about the impact they are making for Southern and to say ‘thank you’ for supporting [their] school.”
While employees, alumni and other outside donors donate most of the funds, Hostetler said students also play a significant part in the annual fundraiser. She said most students are on campus because someone gave to help them be here, and Giving Day is a fun way to pay that forward and give to another student who needs the help, too.
“I heard a story recently that years ago the students in Talge Hall raised over $700 to buy shoes for people who had lost everything in a fire,” she said. “The shoe store was so touched, they matched the gift and doubled the number of shoes the students were able to give.”
In addition to the free donuts and block party, the event will also include “FundRides” from 8:45 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.
According to Annual Giving Manager Sandra Delgado, “The FundRides are an opportunity for students to learn about the impact of gifts, Southern’s history and [to] win dollars for their favorite project.” Individuals can catch a ride on a golf cart, answer trivia questions, and if they answer the question correctly, they can designate money donated by other donors to the project of their choice.
While the Fundrides are going on, there will be a Giving Day booth in the Bietz Center on Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. It will be for students who want to participate in Giving Day.
“At the Bietz Center, students can play different games, take on challenges and win dollars for their academic area, club or mission project,” Delgado said.
She said the Thursday block party will be the largest campus-wide event of the two-day fundraiser.
“We are inviting the entire campus to come celebrate God’s goodness and the generosity of the Southern family,” Delgado said. “We’ll have lunch by local eateries, live praise music, and winners will be announced.”
Ari Rodriguez is the social vice president for Southern’s Student Association. She said the interactive events will make Giving Day more memorable for students.
“I think it’s important, honestly, because it just reminds the students that there are various organizations on campus and in the community that they can support financially,” Rodriguez said.