The seventh annual ADAY4U challenge on April 28, was virtually celebrated this year as the school has been responding to a vast host of COVID-19 challenges. The one-day fundraiser encourages participants to show their school spirit online using the hashtag #ADAY4U and by making a donation to the fundraiser.

Maura Mack Higen, Interim Director of Development in the Vice President’s Office said, “ADAY4U is an opportunity for alumni, parents and friends to demonstrate the power of our community by making a gift to the Union Fund … While we understand this year’s climate may impact the level you’re able to give, please know any amount sends a message, especially to our students, about the strength of our community.”

Given the pandemic sweeping the nation, reasonable hesitations were present in surpassing last year’s donations of $390,000 from 2,062 donors. And, according to the website, these donations “unlocked an additional $170,700 dollars in challenge money from 13 alumni and current parents, totaling more than $560,000.”

When President David Harris was asked why ADAY4U is important he mentioned, “I ask you to consider supporting us with discretion of resources … because just as generations of students sat over there and prepared themselves to make a positive difference in our country and our world … the same will be true of the students that come to this campus, who live in these res halls in the years ahead.”

President Harris believes that ADAY4U is a chance for the Union family to come together and give back so that current and future students have the same, and even better opportunities to those that were presented to alumni who are in a position to give.

Despite the challenges with solely fundraising online, and being in the middle of a pandemic, the college was able to raise more than $768,000, including a $250,000 amount released by the Board of Trustees. There were nearly 900 donors this year which dropped from last year, but final values that were raised increased significantly.