What a Difference 24 Hours Can Make

On Thursday, October 28^th, MSUM alumni, friends, families, faculty and staff come together for a 24-hour, online giving event known as MSUM Giving Day. Donors not only have the opportunity to support their choice of scholarships, programs, and special projects, but they also have the opportunity to magnify the impact of their gifts thanks to nearly $200,000 in matching gifts and challenges.

One of those challenges is the High Five Challenge to support Dragon Athletics. A "high-five" is a gift of $5 or more to any MSUM sports team, with each gift counting toward the goal of 349 “high fives”—one for each of the 349 student athletes at MSUM. Each gift will also leverage a portion of $10,000 in matching funds, which will be distributed based on the number of “high fives” received by each team. Additional challenges double or even triple the amount donated to support MSUM’s academic programs, including performing arts, business, mathematics, psychology, education, and economics. Finally, several social media challenges will unlock generous donations.

While Giving Day encompasses the full 24 hours, it pays to give early and often. The first donor to make a gift after midnight on October 28^th receives an additional $500 toward their favorite cause, as will donors selected through a random drawing at 1:00 p.m. There’s even a way for current MSUM students to participate: students who help write thank-you notes for Giving Day donations will be entered in a drawing to win $500 toward the cause of their choice.

To see the full list of Giving Day opportunities and track the total amount raised, visit mnstate.edu/givingday. I guarantee you’ll be inspired by the generosity of our community. And I promise our students—and their futures—are worth your support.