Funds support university projects, student scholarships; total up $5M from last year
West Virginia University raised more than $11 million on its third annual Day of Giving, about $5 million more than last year.
“Certainly we had some leadership gifts that helped us reach this year’s total amount raised,” Mary Esposito, director of Annual Giving for West Virginia University Foundation, said in an email when asked about the $11.3 million raised.
“Another reason for our success this year was the strong response we had in terms of overall donations made on the day,” she said. “This year our gift count surpassed last year’s by more than 1,000. Each year we are seeing more of our alumni and friends want to be part of this special day.”
Some of the larger gifts made to WVU included $1.3 million from the Hayhurst family to WVU Extension Service. United Bank gave $1 million to support the construction of the new WVU Medicine Children’s hospital. Plus, a leadership gift from alumnus Maurice Wadsworth and his wife, JoAnn, was made to the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. WVU did not disclose the amount of that donation.
“It is so humbling to experience the generosity and support of Mountaineer faithful year after year for the Day of Giving,” WVU President Gordon Gee said in a statement. “That support is a key component that allows the university to make a difference in the lives of the people in West Virginia and in the world.”
WVU said the first $50,000 raised during the Day of Giving was matched dollar for dollar. Plus, the first 1,000 gifts of $100 or more was matched up to $100 each for an extra $100,000. Alumnus Kevin Sidow matched dollar for dollar donations made to the Greatest Needs Fund, which raised $25,000.
“With the decrease in state funding over the past several years, the importance of private giving has increased,” Esposito said. “Our alumni and friends understand this and have been very generous. Gifts made on the Day of Giving help create scholarships for students, provide better quality of life for our state and create new opportunities for WVU.”
Donations made to general scholarship funds Wednesday were matched up to $18,000 by alumni Alison and Patrick Deem.
In the participation challenge, Mountaineer Nation shared more than 1,000 photos on social media of themselves with the Flying WV logo, which unlocked a $20,000 gift from alumni Mike Escue and Alexis Pugh.
This year’s Day of Giving also included WVU Health Sciences and regional campuses in Beckley and in Keyser.
“This was our third year, and each year we have seen an increase in not only dollars raised but total gifts received,” Esposito said. “As we plan the next Day of Giving, we will continue to find ways to reach out to all of our alumni and friends to share this opportunity with them as a way to give back to the university they love.”
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