That’s a wrap! Donors to the University of Mary Washington gave $215,587, based on preliminary totals, in support of the UMW student experience during 2023’s Giving Tuesday celebration this week.
Members of the Mary Washington community – including alumni, faculty, staff, families, friends and students – gathered together for the 24-hour event to #MakeItPossible on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, contributing 575 gifts to areas across the University.
Current and retired faculty and staff members made a total of 119 donations, helping to unlock more than $45,000 in matching and challenge funds from generous donors, inspiring others to give and maximizing the impact of each gift.
“I’m always amazed at the way our Mary Washington family comes together for students on Giving Tuesday year after year,” said Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando ’14. “The enthusiastic support of our alumni, faculty and staff, and families is a testament to their generosity and belief in UMW’s mission.”
The following challenges and matches were met in full on Giving Tuesday:
- $12,500 match from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund for gifts of $500 or less to the Fund for Mary Washington
- $10,000 challenge gift was unlocked from Mary T. Bradley MacPherson ’71 after 200 gifts were made in November to the Beyond the Classroom Endowment, a College of Arts and Sciences initiative, which focused on student study abroad this year
- $5,000 match for the College of Business from the COB Executive Advisory Board
- $5,000 match for the Veterans Endowment from Brian ’84 and Erma Baker ’82
- $5,000 match for the General Scholarship Fund from Alec and Betty Olander Adams ’69
Kelly Matuczinski, a staff nurse in the UMW Student Health Center, said that she was proud to give to the Veterans Endowment, hoping that it will add to current resources for veterans and active service members at Mary Washington.
“My spouse and I are veterans, and both of our children attended UMW using G.I. Bill benefits,” said Matuczinski, who served in the United States Navy with her husband.
Jerry Slezak, director of Digital Learning Support at UMW, decided to contribute to areas that help eliminate the gap in access and provide resources for students in need, including the Technology Assistance Fund, the Gwen Hale Resource Center and the Digital Knowledge Center.
“I’ve seen how giving someone a little help when they need it can make all the difference,” said Slezak, who has been employed at Mary Washington since 1999. “I admire how these various areas support students, so I’m glad I could pitch in and donate to them.”
In addition, those who made gifts of $19.08 or more to the Fund for Mary Washington were given the opportunity to name a campus squirrel and receive a digital certificate. More than 200 donors chose to give squirrels fun names that included Henrietta Minerva Nutkin, Sir Donald Edward Fluffington, Sammy T. Squirrel and Ms. Zippy Chatternut. Alumni were also invited to make gifts in honor or in memory of the person who made their Mary Washington experience a special one.
To learn more about the #GivingTuesday totals, please visit givingday.umw.edu/makeitpossible. Final totals will be reported in the coming weeks.
