In a year marked by challenges and physical distance, Case Western Reserve University supporters came together virtually last week to show a true commitment to their community: 738 donors gave nearly $37,000 toward student causes as part of #GivingTuesday.
Both totals set new records for giving and donor engagement for the university’s annual participation in Giving Tuesday—a global day of generosity traditionally held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Overall, more than one-third of the donors to #GivingTuesdayatCWRU were students.
More than 25 student organizations or other student-support causes took part in #GivingTuesdayatCWRU, raising nearly $10,000 for the Robert l. Haynie, MD, PhD, Endowed Scholarship in the School of Medicine, more than $3,000 for the College of Arts and Sciences’ Emerging Scholars Program, and more than $2,200 for the university’s Physical Resource Center Food Pantry.
And 150 donors—the most to any student cause—collectively raised $1,849 for CWRU Habitat for Humanity.
“In a year as difficult as 2020, #GivingTuesdayatCWRU 2020 is a testament to the generous, giving spirit that CWRU family and friends embody,” said Elton Tong, vice president of CWRU Habitat for Humanity. “Through the support of our donors, our student organization can continue addressing and combating the unfortunate reality of substandard housing.”
In a typical year, student organizations hold tabling events to get their peers’ support for #GivingTuesdayatCWRU; this year, students used a crowdfunding platform combined with social media, email and word-of-mouth messaging through their own social networks.
“Despite the campaign taking place during the busy end of a challenging semester, our student volunteers did a phenomenal job,” said Ayla Sweeney, director of annual giving. “I am so incredibly impressed with their energy, ideas and efforts. We have amazing students at CWRU, and the student volunteers in this campaign are a fantastic example of that.”