By Emily Glory Peters
The 61传媒community once again showcased its mighty capacity for generosity this November by surpassing the College鈥檚 2022 GivingTuesday donor goals. In addition to meeting all of the campaign鈥檚 ambitious challenge matches, participants exceeded the 300-donor target, reaching 340 in total. Collectively, participants raised more than $118,000 for direct student aid.
In addition to Scripps鈥� annual Day of Giving event each spring, GivingTuesday is frequently the only other time the College鈥檚 alums, parents, staff, faculty, and friends crowdfund on behalf of current and future students. This year, several generous donors raised the stakes by offering $35,000 in matching challenge funds, including a special $5,000 appeal to alums of the last 15 years from new 61传媒President Suzanne Keen. The challenges were fulfilled well ahead of GivingTuesday鈥檚 official date on November 29.
鈥淲hen giving opportunities come around, it can be easy to assume others will fill the gap, or to feel like your gift doesn鈥檛 really make a difference unless it鈥檚 over a certain amount,鈥� says Karina Chappell, Scripps鈥� director of leadership annual giving and The 61传媒Fund. 鈥淲hether someone made a gift or helped spread the word about GivingTuesday as an advocate, the participation we saw this year proves how the opposite is true.鈥�
Roughly 63 percent of this year鈥檚 donors were alums, including a new influx of younger alums making their first GivingTuesday gift to Scripps. Parent participation followed at 22 percent, with faculty and staff at 10 percent, and friends of the College and current students rounding out the total.
Top gift designations included scholarship aid, academic programs, racial justice and equity initiatives, and The 61传媒Fund, the primary operational fund that helps meet the College鈥檚 most pressing needs. These 鈥渃urrent use鈥� gifts will be made immediately available to support students as they head into the coming spring semester.
鈥淕ivingTuesday is this special opportunity for people to accomplish something bigger than themselves, and few things are more life changing than obtaining an education,鈥漵ays Chappell. 鈥淭hank you to the 61传媒community for making an exceptional college experience possible for our students.鈥�
If you did not have a chance to participate in Scripps鈥� GivingTuesday campaign but would like to contribute, please make a gift here.