April 23, 2024

UMW Exceeds Founder’s Day Challenge

The University of Mary Washington raised nearly $130,000, exceeding a six-week Founder’s Day Challenge in celebration of the 107th anniversary on Saturday, March 14.   From Left: UMW Vice President Torre Meringolo and President Richard Hurley The challenge aimed to raise $107,000 for the Fund for Mary Washington, the unrestricted gifts fund for the university, by the founding anniversary. The final sum of $127,653 includes gifts to the Fund for Mary Washington from February 1 through March 14 and counts towards the $50-million Mary Washington First Campaign. “The tremendous response to this challenge is a great testament to the loyalty and pride of the Mary Washington community,” said UMW President Richard V. Hurley. The Fund for Mary Washington is the single largest source of UMW’s unrestricted private support, allowing UMW to support students, programs and other needs not covered by the state’s operating budget. Discretion for use of the funds is handled by the president and other designated decision-makers. The Fund is just one of seven donation areas within UMW’s $50 million Mary Washington First Campaign. With the support of alumni, students, staff, faculty, parents and community members, UMW aims to reach its campaign goal in 2016. UMW was established as the State Normal School for Women at Fredericksburg on March 14, 1908, with the assistance of C. O’Conor Goolrick. For more information about the founding of UMW or the challenge, please visit http://giving.umw.edu/challenge.