Giving Day Brings UMW Supporters ‘All Together’ on April 13

There’s no time like spring at the University of Mary Washington, and there’s no day like Giving Day. Mary Wash Giving Day returns this year on Tuesday, April 13, and the University community near and far – alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends – is invited to join the celebration.

This year’s theme, #AllTogetherUMW, serves as a reminder of what can be accomplished when supporters join forces for a common purpose: to benefit students through funding for academic, athletic, arts, leadership, service, career and cultural programs. And this year’s goal — 3,000 gifts to areas across the University during the 24-hour online event — emphasizes each donor’s impact on the student experience.

Also known as “Mary Wash Day,” the initiative has grown exponentially since its 2017 inception, and with 2020’s event canceled amidst the growing pandemic, UMW’s Annual Giving team is pulling out all the stops this year. Dynamic leaderboards, matching funds and social media challenges will add to the excitement as the day’s progress is tracked live.

The University has benefited from strong private support for more than a century, and donors’ gifts have provided an essential boost throughout the past year. As student need grows and UMW adapts to a rapidly changing world, Giving Day gifts are more valuable than ever. On the Mary Wash Giving Day website, on April 13, donors will be able to provide direct financial assistance to students through the General Scholarship Fund or the Technology Assistance Fund, or support the University’s most pressing needs through the Fund for Mary Washington. Gifts will strengthen diversity and inclusion initiatives, and bolster campus preservation, student life, and other areas that define the UMW difference.

UMW’s College of Arts and Sciences introduced plans last year to build a $1 million endowed fund. Once the goal is met, “Beyond the Classroom: An Endowment for Student Research and Learning” will help provide $40,000 each year for these high-impact student learning experiences that take place beyond the classroom.

Mary Wash Giving Day supports programming unique to the University of Mary Washington, like the Multicultural Fair, which is organized by the James Farmer Multicultural Center and draws more than 5,000 visitors to campus each year.

The Fund for Mary Washington allows University leadership to secure adequate funding for areas across campus, ensures UMW has the best faculty members continuing the level of excellence that Mary Washington alumni expect, and provides the resources necessary for UMW students to succeed.

In addition to marking the calendar for April 13, the Mary Washington community is asked to help spread the word on social media by tagging their posts with #AllTogetherUMW and #MaryWashDay. In 2019, more than 300 Giving Day Ambassadors inspired more than 1,000 additional gifts by posting and sharing. Anyone can sign up as a Giving Day Ambassador, and receive access to a custom dashboard and toolkit, at givingday.umw.edu.

More information about Mary Wash Giving Day can be found on the FAQ page.