I will never forget the very first One Day, One Dayton. We set an ambitious goal: 1,850 gifts in just 24 hours. In all honesty, we had no idea what to expect, but hour after hour, Flyer Nation kept giving and giving and giving, exceeding our wildest expectations.
The extraordinary success of that 2019 Giving Day — and all those that followed — captured the spirit and momentum of the historic We Soar Campaign, which not only met its $400 million goal but soared past it with $53 million to spare. Beyond the dollars, we far surpassed our stretch goals in both participation (any gift, any size, any purpose) and engagement (volunteer leaders in Flyer Nation). In all, 21,338 new donors joined the Front Porch Society, and 3,064 stepped up as new volunteers.
We Soar has always been more than numbers, though. It’s about people.
“We need to lean into who we are,” I told the presidential search committee during my airport interview nearly a decade ago when asked about launching a campaign, UD’s first in two decades.
My answer then was informed by an insightful hour-long conversation with a fabulous search committee, and it feels even truer today. At the University of Dayton, we major in interpersonal relationships. It’s part of our Marianist DNA. It’s a big part of how we help students discover their calling and take their gifts into the world.
During the campaign I traveled coast to coast to meet with alumni, parents, and friends who patiently listened to me brag endlessly about our students and relished sharing their own UD stories. A common thread emerged, particularly from alumni. They shared their deep gratitude for the faculty and Marianists who shaped their lives and appreciation for the lifelong friendships that began on our campus. As students, they didn’t just gain textbook knowledge — they found their calling. In turn, they want today’s students — and generations to come — to have a similar transformational experience.
Whether it was $25 to support the women’s rowing team, $100 to enable Campus Ministry, or $2 million for a scholarship endowment, donors told me they were inspired to give because they could see the impact of their gifts. Their generosity came to life in moments like these:
- a first-generation student embarking on a life-changing study-abroad experience after never having traveled outside the U.S.;
- a student musician sharing her talent on stage in a new, high-end concert hall in the Roger Glass Center for the Arts;
- 13,409 basketball-mad fans gathering in a newly renovated, world-class arena to cheer on our beloved Flyers;
- Flyer Promise scholars sharing from the heart how donor-funded scholarships opened doors to opportunity that many had not known existed; and
- students in the University of Dayton Summer Appalachian Program (UDSAP) inspiring and influencing young people in Salyersville, Kentucky — continuing a 60-year tradition made possible by gifts both large and small.
At UD, community is at the heart of all we do. During the We Soar Campaign, we accomplished more than we ever imagined because we came together in true UD fashion.
My heartfelt gratitude goes out to our all-volunteer campaign cabinet, led by Deb Tobias ’73. This dedicated team opened doors, offered bold, creative ideas, and served with passion and faith.
I’m also deeply grateful to our advancement division, marketing and communication professionals, and the dedicated faculty, staff, and administrators who championed the campaign. They love UD, and it showed in their tireless efforts. They worked late nights and weekends. They told our story in compelling ways. They made countless calls, traveled far and wide, and did whatever it took to help the University reach new heights.
Because when we come together in community, we can exceed our wildest expectations and soar. And SOAR WE HAVE!