A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Looking for a way to stay connected to other alumni during this challenging time? We are beginning the second round of reading in our online literary group–the Mother of All Book Clubs!
Alumni read and discuss via a private Facebook group, so only approved members can see posts or participate in the discussion. This is informal and low-pressure–read along with us and chime in on the discussion as much or as little as you like.
Our next selection is Dear Evan Hansen, by Steven Levenson. “A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed could be his. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to belong. Deeply personal and profoundly universal, Dear Evan Hansen is a groundbreaking American musical about truth, fiction, and the price we’re willing to pay for the possibility to connect.”
Dear Evan Hansen was UMW’s Common Read experience for 2017 and is an ongoing Broadway hit. This book should prompt some good discussions about ethics, mental health, and the impact of social media on our society and relationships. It also is uplifting and warm, with an award-winning soundtrack. Recently, the UMW Theatre department adapted a song from the soundtrack and released it on social media, where it received praise on the show’s social media as well.
Please note that we are reading the actual screenplay of the Broadway production. There are other publications, including a novelization, by the same name. Use the links here and confirm the author to ensure you obtain the correct text.
Pick up a copy of the book and start reading–we will begin posting discussion questions on Monday, May 25. You might have a small-business bookseller you like to support, or you might want to try your local library system, as many offer ebook rentals. But if you need the book shipped, below are some links to larger online providers.
We look forward to reading with you!
All the best,
The Alumni Relations Team
Announcing Giving Day 2020
Save the date: Mary Washington’s 4th Annual Giving Day will be held Thursday, March 19, 2020. Mary Wash Giving Day, also known as #MaryWashDay, is a 24-hour online event in which alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and friends of UMW come together to make gifts to areas across the University. It’s an opportunity for you to raise funds to support departmental priorities.
Sign-up for #MaryWashDay 2020 is now open!
If your department or campus organization would like to participate in Mary Wash Giving Day 2020, please fill out this short form by September 3. We will hold an initial mandatory meeting for all participating groups on Thursday, September 26. In an attempt to accommodate differing schedules, we will offer this meeting at two different times: 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., both in the Hurley Convergence Center Digital Auditorium.
During this kickoff meeting, we will go over all of the new guidelines for Giving Day 2020 and distribute the Giving Day 2020 informational packet. In an effort to streamline, this packet will contain all of the guidelines, due dates, and information needed to make Giving Day 2020 a success. After this initial meeting, other optional workshops will be held throughout the year to help participants prepare for the big day.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Shelby Orlando: sorlando@umw.edu x1361, or Beth Hunsinger: ehunsing@umw.edu x2068.
We are excited to work with everyone who will be participating in #MaryWashDay 2020!
The final results are in for fiscal year 2019. All together 7,358 UMW alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, students, and businesses made a grand total of $9.4 million in gifts and pledges.
But, that’s not all. See this infographic from the Office of Advancement for more amazing facts about philanthropy and engagement from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. THANK YOU for your continued support!
Donors in 45 states and nine countries made more than 4,000 gifts to UMW topping $600,000.
The UMW community came together on a sunny Tuesday in March to take part in the third annual Mary Wash Giving Day, a 24-hour online fundraising event to benefit students and programs across the University. The day’s final donation total—after all online and offline gifts were counted—exceeded $600,000.
Donors from 45 states and nine countries, including alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends of the University, made more than 4,000 gifts on Giving Day, surpassing the goal of 3,500. These results broke last year’s Giving Day record and represented a 34% increase in gifts and a 33% increase in dollars raised. Read more.
The UMW family, across the country and across the world, came together to make history Tuesday, March 19, on Mary Wash Giving Day.
During the 24-hour online fundraising marathon, donors in 45 states and seven countries made 3,533 gifts totaling $586,493* to benefit students and programs across the University, including the arts, academics, athletics, student life and scholarships. Each gift helps to ensure a strong future for Mary Washington and its students, continuing a longstanding tradition of dynamic donor support at the 111-year-old institution.
Donors exceeded the day’s lofty goal of 3,500 gifts and topped last year’s results, breaking the record for the largest day of giving in University history. On Giving Day in March 2018, supporters made 2,987 gifts totaling $449,631. Read more.
Mary Wash Giving Day is March 19. Make your gift at givingday.umw.edu!
Faculty and staff are asked to go “all in” for UMW on our third annual Giving Day, to be held Tuesday, March 19.
On Mary Wash Giving Day, also known as #MaryWashDay, donors can make gifts to areas across the University from midnight to 11:59 p.m. at givingday.umw.edu. Challenges and matches funded by generous donors will be “unlocked” throughout the day, multiplying the impact of each gift.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to stop by the Giving Day Headquarters in the University Center between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 19 for free food, prizes, games, and a photo booth.
The University has set a Giving Day goal of 3,500 gifts, topping last year’s tally of 2,987. On March 19, each gift will be tracked on dynamic leaderboards on the Giving Day website, providing real-time updates on progress toward the participation goal.
Donors may choose any area of the University to support with their Giving Day gifts. Gifts made during the 24-hour celebration will benefit students by providing funding for academic, athletic, arts, leadership, service, career, and cultural programs. Donors who wish to support the University’s areas of greatest need are asked to give to the Fund for Mary Washington.
Sign up to be a Giving Day Ambassador to help spread the word on social media!
Please contact the Office of Annual Giving with questions: umwgift@umw.edu.
The third annual Mary Wash Giving Day, the University’s 24-hour online fundraising event, will be held on March 19, 2019. The Office of Annual Giving requests that all departments and groups, returning or new, who wish to participate in Giving Day by raising funds for your department/group complete a participation form by September 10. This form is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/78GKRXT.
The first training session for Giving Day participants will be held in September; the date will be provided in a future EagleEye.
Questions should be directed to Beth Hunsinger, Director of Annual Giving: ehunsing@umw.edu.
The Office of University Advancement developed this infographic to provide a snapshot of philanthropy and engagement during fiscal year 2017. Thank you to everyone who made gifts in support of UMW’s mission!
Mary Wash Giving Day, the University’s first 24-hour giving day, was the largest one-day fundraising effort in Mary Washington history. Held March 14, 2017, the celebration coincided with the 109th anniversary of the University’s founding. Snowy roads forced the closure of campus and cancellation of Giving Day events, but donors still turned out in force online to make the day a huge success.
Final Giving Day results are as follows:
· 1,218 gifts to areas across the University, including the Fund for Mary Washington, arts and cultural programs, athletics, academic departments, the Amphitheatre restoration, and scholarships
· 1,090 unique donors (counting each donor once, even if they made more than one gift), including 678 alumni (31 of whom are also faculty or staff members), and 58 current and former faculty and staff members.
· $217,255 in gifts and gift commitments, including $80,655 for the Fund for Mary Washington
As we mark one month since this historic day of philanthropy, gifts are already at work strengthening the Mary Washington experience for students. This snapshot from the Office of Annual Giving provides additional highlights of the day: