In honor of the 108th anniversary of an institution founded in 1908, University of Mary Washington met its ambitious Founders Day Challenge. President Richard V. Hurley set a goal of raising $108,000 in two weeks. So, from March 1 through 14, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends contributed a total of $108,334 in gifts and gift commitments to the Fund for Mary Washington.
“Private support provides essential funding for the programs that define each student’s UMW experience,” President Hurley said. “During the Founders Day Challenge and throughout the year, our donors demonstrate their commitment to the University’s mission through their giving. I am grateful for each and every gift and thrilled to be able to announce that we exceeded the goal.”
The challenge supported the Fund for Mary Washington, the University’s single largest source of unrestricted private support. Gifts to the Fund enable UMW to provide financial assistance to students, programs and other needs not covered by a declining state operating budget. The Fund provides critical dollars for unexpected student needs, scholarship support, career services, alumni events, faculty retention programs and more.
The Fund for Mary Washington is just one of seven areas of priority within UMW’s $50 million Mary Washington First Campaign. The campaign, which will close June 30, 2016, has garnered generous support from more than 16,000 donors since it was launched in 2011.
UMW was established as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Fredericksburg on March 14, 1908. More on the University’s founding and the celebration of Founders Day is posted here.