For the second time, University of Idaho alumni, current students and faculty opened their hearts — and wallets — to university departments.
The second annual Vandal Giving Day began at noon Tuesday and concluded Wednesday night, raising $366,563 through 1,301 donations. Jamie Wagner, director of advancement communications for UI Alumni Relations, said the event lasted exactly 1,889 minutes, to honor the founding year (1889) of the university.
“Basically, it’s just a way to bring the entire Vandal family together and celebrate in kind of a unique way,” Wagner said.
Brandon Hill | Argonaut
Vandal Giving Day volunteers encourage students and staff to donate Wednesday
The previous Vandal Giving Day took place during fall 2016. Wagner said the long hiatus gave those in charge a chance to revise their strategies. In 2018, Vandal Giving Day offered new features, such as the opportunity to donate to Greek Life, and an enhanced social media presence.
Eric Billings, UI’s director of Annual Giving, said in 2016, the event received $150,000 from donations based on matches and donation challenges presented on the official website.
Halfway through 2018’s event, Billings said they had already received more than $200,000.
“Honestly, it’s been a trend that’s been happening across the country, and we thought why not take one or two days to make something fun out of it and get our whole Vandal family to support the areas they care about,” Billings said.
Wagner said she expected the Idaho Central Credit Union Arena, a proposed new basketball stadium on campus, to receive a large portion of donations. Wagner, a UI alumna herself, said she hoped donors give to departments and areas of the university they cared about the most.
“It’s really whatever you’re passionate about,” Wagner said. “We have students who come by and make small gifts, because maybe they love the marching band, so they say, “Hey, my $5 gift will help the marching band face these larger challenges.’”
In the Idaho Commons Plaza, Vandal Giving Day Ambassadors encouraged students and faculty to give whatever they can. City Councilwoman Anne Zabala, UI graduate and Annual Giving program coordinator, took time to do her part and give back to her school. Zabala said she credited the university for making her more engaged in her community, especially after graduation.
“I would say that a big part of why I’m civically engaged now and active in the community is through U of I programming, like the Volunteer Center,” she said.
Zabala, who said she donated to UI’s Alternative Service Break Program, said she would encouraged anyone to give back, even if the contribution was minimal.
“As a recent grad, I have student loan debt and other financial obligations,” she said. “I still feel very passionate about some of the programs that I was involved with enough to make small donations, and I always encourage others to do as well.”
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected]