A record number of people “threw their O” on May 18, joining forces to unlock 31 challenge gifts for 19 schools and departments by making donations during #DucksGive 2017.

“More than 2,100 alumni, friends and UO employees shattered our goal of 1,876 donors and helped to raise more than $1.1 million in a single day,” said organizer Rob Dow.

The funds will help make a variety of things possible across campus, including PathwayOregon, scholarships, building construction and renovation, and programs such as the new Black Cultural Center.

“Ducks sure know how to rise to the occasion,” said Mike Andreasen, vice president for advancement. “It’s inspiring to see what we can accomplish by pooling our efforts. Cheers to everyone involved.”

Giving days like #DucksGive are 24-hour online fundraising challenges that harness social media to rally people around a common cause or event.

At the UO, Giving Day coincides with University Day, when hundreds of students work alongside volunteers from the faculty and staff to give the 250-acre campus an instant makeover. The weed-pulling, mulch-spreading, flower-planting effort is a community-building tradition dating back to 1905.

As part of University Day activities, students also got in on the #DucksGive action by writing thank-you notes to donors.

For a list of #DucksGive challenge gifts and a recap of social media postings, including tweets from UO community members such as Tykeson Dean Andrew Marcus, visit https://ducksgive.uoregon.edu.