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#GivingTuesday is much more than a holiday. It’s a movement.

On Tuesday, Dec. 2, ����ԭ�� students, staff, faculty and community members came together in the Student Union Atrium to celebrate Giving Tuesday with generosity and activity. By the end of the day, $6,188 had been donated to various ����ԭ�� funds.

The event’s charitable participants were able to donate to one or multiple funds such as the Friendship Food Pantry, the Graduation Fund, the Lillie P. Howard Student Need-Based Grant Fund, the Rise. Shine. Campaign or a fund of the participant’s choice.

is a $150 million fundraising campaign that promises to further elevate the university’s prominence by expanding scholarships, attracting more top-flight faculty and supporting construction of state-of-the-art facilities.

Kari Simpson, graduate assistant for the Office of Annual Giving, said philanthropy was at the heart of Giving Tuesday.

“Philanthropy is so important because it is not only a way to give back to something important to you, but also a way to help others,” said Simpson. “By donating to a cause or organization, you are able to make a difference. Without philanthropy, many of ����ԭ��’s organizations would not be here.”

One of the highlights of the event was a cash cube — an inflatable chamber that contained $1,000 of donated money from Student Affairs for participants to snatch up as quickly as possible. The money grabbed while in the cash cube was donated to a fund of the participant’s choosing.

Participants took the opportunity to write unselfies — pictures taken with notes of selflessness and gratitude — to the ����ԭ�� community, saying why they chose to donate and participate in Giving Tuesday:

• “I Rise. Because I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become. ”
• “I Rise. Because I have the opportunity to become a better person every day at ����ԭ��. ”

Emily Bingham, one of the attendees at Giving Tuesday, said Giving Tuesday is one of her favorite days of the holiday season.

“It’s a breath of fresh air amidst all of the consumerism of the holidays,” Bingham said. “It feels good to give back.”

For more information on how to donate to ����ԭ�� or a specific organization or fund, contact Annual Giving at 937-775-3958 or amy.n.jones@wright.edu.