Alumni, students, families, faculty, staff and friends gave 6,376 gifts and more than $2.3 million in honor of the day, propelling this year’s Elon Day celebration to new heights.
Thousands of people around the world joined together on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, to support the university and show their pride for Elon Day, the university’s annual day of giving. Their collective support totaled 6,376 gifts and more than $2.3 million, surpassing each previous Elon Day celebration to become the greatest day of giving in the university’s history.
Gifts from the day will make an impact across campus by supporting scholarships, academic schools and departments, athletics, student organizations, affinity programs and high-impact learning experiences such as study abroad and service learning. Since 2014, Elon Day has inspired donors to contribute over 23,000 gifts and more than $7 million to the university, with excitement and momentum growing every year.
“Elon Day shows how much our community believes in Elon, and the difference we can make for our institution when we come together,” said John H. Barnhill ’92, associate vice president for university advancement. “Each donor creates even more opportunities for current and future students.”
For the first challenge of the day, donors reached 1,500 gifts before a special College Coffee at 9:45 a.m. Their success unlocked two new scholarships totaling $115,000 that will provide increased student access to high-impact learning experiences. They include a $50,000 Global Engagement Scholarship from Jim and Nancy Point P’95 in honor of retired faculty and staff members Pam and Chalmers Brumbaugh P’98, and a $65,000 scholarship for student internships from John and Valerie Thomas P’20.
At College Coffee, Elon Trustee Jeanne Robertson P’89 GP’17 GP’22 announced the return of the "Join Jeanne" match, which matched gifts dollar for dollar to any athletics designation up to $100,000. Also announced was the "Together Elon" match, which matched gifts to Elon’s Greatest Needs dollar for dollar.
This momentum led to the Midday Scholarship Challenge sponsored by Allison Fox '15, Robert and Kim Graybill P'21, and Rich '87 and Laurie Johnson P'17. This challenge called for donors to reach 3,300 gifts by 5 p.m. to unlock three new Elon Engagement scholarships totaling $300,000. Elon Engagement Scholarships help close the financial gap for families, allowing admitted students to choose to attend Elon.
The final challenge, sponsored by the family of a sophomore student, called for donors to reach 6,370 gifts. By reaching the challenge, Elon Day donors unlocked a new $500,000 Odyssey Scholarship, which will provide full financial need for deserving and talented students, including many who are the first in their families to attend college.
In addition to College Coffee, on-campus events included a Senior Toast for the Class of 2019 and an all-student Elon Day Mardi Party with fireworks later in the evening. In total, three events on campus and 38 alumni chapter events around the world drew more than 3,950 attendees.
Engagement on social media also hit a peak, with people around the world showing their pride using #ElonDay.
>> See some of the Elon Day photos shared on social media
The following donors generously sponsored Elon Day giving challenges and matches:
- Elon Trustee Jeanne Robertson and husband Jerry Robertson P’89 GP’17 GP’22
- Jen Porter and Elon Trustee Dave Porter P'11 P'19
- Lori and Elon Trustee Eric Sklut P’14
- Anonymous family of a sophomore student
- Allison Fox '15
- Kim and Robert Graybill P'21
- Laurie and Rich '87 Johnson P'17
- Valerie and John Thomas P’20
- Susan and Steve Paneyko P’20
- Nancy and Jim Point P’95 in honor of retired Elon faculty and staff members Pam and Chalmers Brumbaugh P’98
- Robbie and Shawn Ellsworth P’20
- Cindy and Steve '80 Ellington
- Cam Tims ’00
- Jill and TJ Rose ’00
- Jon Shutt ’05
- Kim and Steve Klinger P'20
- Angela and Michael Simon P'17
- Debbie and Stephen Ellick P’18 P’20
- Helen and Chris Leupold P'21
- Bill Vaughan L’11
- Debbie and Michael Bunder P’18 P’22
- Lisa and Leonard Dick P’20
- Heidi and Michael Brodsky P’21
- Sandra and Jordan Walder P’22
- Linda and Mark Posner P’20
- Debi and Harris Gellman P’22
Learn more about this year’s historic day of giving at elon.edu/elonday.