SLU Giving Day Raises Over $110,000 in 24 Hours

11/17/2017

In just 24 hours, Saint Louis University’s first SLU Giving Day raised $116,141 through 887 gifts from alumni, staff members, faculty, students, SLU families and friends of the University. The Office of Alumni and Donor Engagement spearheaded the creative fundraising effort that was held on Thursday, Nov. 16, from midnight to midnight.

The Nov. 16 event – held on the University’s Founders Day – was designed to benefit a variety of needs across the University including scholarships, book funds and priorities designated by individual college and school deans.

Donations were encouraged with special fundraising challenges that unlocked additional funds when certain dollar amounts or donor participation goals were met. Many challenges were school-specific and individuals pledged to provide their own donations once a certain number of gifts had been reached. For example, Mardell Wilson, Ph.D., dean of Doisy College of Health Sciences, pledged $1,929 in honor of the school’s founding year once 40 gifts were made to the school, while John Ammann, J.D., a SLULAW professor, gave $2,000 after 50 donors contributed to law school scholarships.

“There is a lot of need for financial access across the entire student population today,” said Tom Sweircinsky (Parks ’62). Those needs motivated Sweircinsky and his wife, Carol, who gave the $5,000 challenge gift to Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology on SLU Giving Day.

“We hope to alleviate some of that need by helping students with their attendance costs so they can spend less time stressing about how to pay for their education,” Sweircinsky explained. “We want them to be able to truly experience their education so they can make an impact on the world.”

The Faculty and Staff Challenge was the first of the day to meet its goal, logging 50 gifts by 10 a.m. As a result, challengers and University staff members Pete and Debbie Dill Garvin contributed $1,818 to SLU’s Helping Our Own Fund.

“SLU spirit was out in full force last Thursday,” Kate Brennan, director of annual giving said. Her team conceived of and led SLU Giving Day. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who made our first SLU Giving Day a huge success; the day went beyond our expectations.”

To see the final gift count for each school or organization and individual challenge pages, visit SLU Giving Day.