The University of Dayton will celebrate the impact donations have on students' lives with the eighth-annual "One Day, One Dayton" 24-hour giving campaign Wednesday, April 8.
The goal is for 6,600 students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of UD to join in supporting the University's mission. Some have created challenges and matching gifts for their fellow Flyers. Bill '69 and Jill Howard will give $20,000 if 715 people make their first gift to UD and/or $10,000 if 35 donors make a monthly/recurring gift by the end of giving day. UD's Parent Leadership Council will give $39,600 for UD's new Student Health and Wellbeing Center if 160 donors give by the end of giving day.
"One Day, One Dayton is a reminder of what makes this University extraordinary — the way our community shows up for one another," UD President Eric F. Spina said. "Every gift, no matter its size, becomes part of a much larger story: students discovering their purpose, faculty pushing the boundaries of knowledge and Flyers using their talents to serve the common good. When we come together in this way, we open doors for students that they could never open alone."
Donors can choose where their money goes. Last year, donors contributed $2.4 million for student scholarships, research, experiential learning opportunities, to help send students to conferences, and to prepare students for the bar exam, to name a few.
UD group fitness instructor Michalene McQuide and Julia Capell, a student lead for intramural sports, attended the Ohio Recreational Sports Association State Workshop thanks to One Day, One Dayton, which supported professional development for more than 200 students employed through UD Campus Recreation.
"A lot of students don't have the financial ability to take advantage of opportunities like this, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity," Capell said. "We always have a large turnout at these conferences of both students and professional staff, thanks to donations, which is so cool to see."
McQuide agreed.
"Attending these conferences really makes our school stronger," McQuide said, reflecting on the long-term impact. "As the years go on, and hopefully more students are able to attend, you'll see growth in the campus community as a whole because of these opportunities and the skills that we're building through them."
More information on One Day One Dayton is available here.
For interviews, contact Shawn Robinson, associate director of news and communications, at srobinson@udayton.edu, 937-229-3391 or 937-545-5421.