Alumni and Friends Making an Impact
Giving Back Before Graduating
Drew Moyer ’22 graduated May 8 thankful for the philanthropy that helped him earn his degree and hopeful he fostered a philanthropic spirit among his peers.
As the departing Students for University Advancement philanthropy chair, Moyer was involved with One Day, One Dayton, the University of Dayton’s annual giving day, and helped students make the connection between philanthropy and their day-to-day lives. And it was successful; the graduating Class of 2022 beat all others, including alumni classes, with the largest percentage of donors.
For One Day, One Dayton, Moyer encouraged students to “give what they can, even one dollar” to show their appreciation for their UD experiences and for the donors who helped build the University they know and love.
Moyer, the outgoing president of the Student Government Association, led by example. As one of the 172 Class of 2022 donors, he directed his gift to the Counseling Center, an area of interest for him as he watched his peers navigate isolation during the pandemic and the stresses of school and personal life.
“I was here — and many of us were here — because of donor-funded scholarships,” Moyer said. “And I think that ties into my love and support of philanthropy, giving and One Day, One Dayton as a whole. I hope someday I will be fortunate enough to do the same so somebody else can have the opportunity and possibility to grow, and to learn, lead and serve just like I had over my four years.”
In addition to the endowed scholarships supporting Moyer's studies, he further saw "what was possible because of donors" while working to help keep students safe and engaged on campus during the pandemic. One project geared to get students outdoors included a donor-funded ice rink on Stuart Field.
“Giving is bigger than just me. It's bigger than my friends. It's bigger than the group we're a part of,” Moyer said. “It’s us pushing forward to leave a lasting legacy at the University to help students like ourselves continue to have the experiences we have had and hope they are able to have even better experiences.”