The Wilkes Community was the Lucky Charm for Fourth Annual Giving Day on March 17

The Wilkes family of Colonels came together for the University’s Giving Day 2023, a fundraising effort in support of the areas of greatest need. The 24-hour celebration encouraged all members of the Wilkes community to embrace the culture of philanthropy by making a gift to a program that means the most to them.

Two key events yielded record participation on campus:

• For students, a gift of any amount provided them with an opportunity to take a professional photo with Walter Cant, the first dog of Wilkes (read more about Walter here). They also were automatically entered into a raffle to win an iPad, Nintendo Switch or spirit items from the Colonel Corner bookstore.
• For faculty and staff, a fun afternoon mixer, hosted by the offices of Alumni Relations and Advancement, provided a chance to make a gift and mingle over snacks and refreshments.

As a result, Giving Day 2023 resulted in 800 members of the Colonel community, including alumni, parents, faculty, staff and students, raising more than $140,000 in support of the highest priorities on campus. This included $45,000 in challenge funds, pledged by generous benefactors that were unlocked when the goal of 750 donors was met.

The Wilkes community served as the “lucky charm” for this March 17 event. Each donation represents a chance for current and future Wilkes students to succeed. Look for information on Giving Day 2024 in the weeks to come.