Ducks Give — the University of Oregon’s annual day of giving — is turning 10. This milestone year promises to be the biggest and most impactful yet. The 24-hour celebration of Duck pride and generosity kicks off at midnight May 15.
“Looking back at ten years of Ducks Give, I am blown away by the generosity of the UO community,” said Celeste Christie, associate director of annual philanthropy. “I get excited for Ducks Give every year not just because of the events and the buzz, but because on this day we can see the power of people coming together to support students. Every person, no matter how much they can give, can still be a part of giving day, and that’s inspiring.”
With the theme “a decade of Ducks Give, a big future ahead,” the campus is gearing up for a full day of meaningful support and spirited fun as the UO looks to the next decade and the exciting growth ahead. Last year, the Ducks community raised an incredible $1,450,603 from 3,208 gifts. This year, it is aiming even higher. Those who can’t give monetarily can consider becoming a Ducks Give Ambassador to help spread the news about the day of giving with their social network. There will also be events and special perks across campus and online throughout the day, such as:
- Free admission to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.
- Festivities from the College of Education, Knight Library, School of Journalism and Communication, and Lundquist College of Business.
- A photo booth, bracelet-making station, and plenty of pizza at the Erb Memorial Union.
- A Goosechase online scavenger hunt.
More than 40 colleges, schools, departments, clubs and other units across the university — up from 30 last year — are coming together to rally support from alumni, parents and friends of the UO. With state funding covering less than 10 percent of the university’s total budget, private giving plays a vital role in sustaining the quality of education UO students receive. Every gift helps power scholarships, groundbreaking research, faculty excellence, transformative programs and unforgettable student experiences.
Ducks Give lets donors amplify their impact by helping unlock challenge gifts throughout the day — bonus funds that are released when certain goals are met, such as reaching a set number of gifts or hitting a fundraising milestone. So far, more than 80 generous donors have committed over $1.5 million in challenge gifts, with more expected as the big day approaches.
What surprises — and generosity — will be unlocked together this year? To learn more or make a gift, visit ducksgive.uoregon.edu.
—By Mark Wang, Advancement Communications