More than 1,800 donors gave a total exceeding $237,000 to fund a new student union, student scholarships, various athletics programs and other endeavors in just 24 hours on Wednesday. The gifts were the result of Campbell University’s third annual Campbell Giving Day, a campus-wide campaign led by the department of annual giving.
For the third consecutive year, Campbell alumni, faculty, staff, families and friends topped the University’s donor goal. This year, that goal was set at 1,300 gifts — higher than both years previous. Friends of Campbell were invited to make a gift, designating it to the fund of their choice, and then help spread the word by posting on social media with #CampbellGivingDay. On Twitter alone, the tag was used more than 350 times as givers shared their Campbell experiences and what inspired them to give back.
“Campbell Giving Day is a special time for the entire Campbell University family,” said Britt Davis, vice president for institutional advancement. “We have a single collective goal: demonstrate a spirit of giving to support the mission of this great university. The outpouring of support from the Campbell family on February 5 was inspiring and humbling. We reached our gift count goal for the day by 5pm and the support just kept coming. We could not be more grateful.”
While donors could choose where their gifts would be used on Wednesday, many donors chose the student union and student scholarships — the cornerstones of President J. Bradley Creed’s current $75 million Campbell Leads fundraising campaign. The 110,000-square-foot student union — currently under construction in Campbell’s Academic Circle — will be completed before the end of the semester and will bring new dining options, a two-story fitness facility, a new gift shop, a movie theater, a large ballroom and several offices and study areas for students and student-run groups.
“It’s been quite an amazing giving day,” said Tammi Fries, director of annual giving. “I am so thankful for those who love my alma mater and generously gave to support Campbell and our students. Today is an example that when we come together as a Campbell community, we can make a big impact.”