On April 17, the University of Kentucky will rally its alumni, friends and fans to support One Day for UK, a 24-hour day of giving during which donors can support the college, unit or cause of their choice.
Many areas throughout the University have targeted specific funds for One Day for UK and the College of Arts & Sciences is raising money for the Arts & Sciences Academic Excellence Fund to support:
- Scholarships
- Education Abroad Opportunities
- Student Success Programs
"The College of Arts & Sciences Academic Excellence Fund helps prepare our students for a global world by making sure they have access to well-rounded, enriching experiences while at UK. The generosity of our donors enables the College to allocate funds quickly toward innovative solutions and opportunities for our students and faculty. The impacts of this fund are far-reaching and have many lasting benefits."
In its first year, the goal of One Day for UK is to raise awareness about the campaign and to generate support for UK.
"This is a chance for people to show their UK pride," said Sarah Fitzgerald, associate director of annual giving and One Day for UK organizer. "Many people are unaware of the many areas they can support at UK. This is a chance for us to spend one day celebrating UK, teaching people about the different ways they can support the University and showing them how they can help us continue to grow."
By conducting the campaign online, UK hopes to reach a broader audience, including reconnecting with alumni, engaging young alumni and motivating its strongest supporters to make a gift. In addition to financially supporting the college, unit or cause of their choice, supporters can repost messages, spark conversation about UK online and encourage their friends and family to give.
"It is a community effort," Fitzgerald said. "Together, we can make a huge impact on campus through One Day for UK. We can provide more scholarships and research opportunities for students, give our colleges and departments the resources they need to be successful and strengthen our creative and outreach efforts, which help transform the Commonwealth."
One Day for UK also supports the University’s comprehensive campaign, Kentucky Can: The 21st Century Campaign, which increases opportunities for student success, funds innovative research, improves health care, strengthens the alumni network and supports athletic programs.
UK will be mailing information about One Day for UK to all alumni. People can make a gift through the mail or at https://uky.networkforgood.com before April 17 to the college, unit or cause of their choice. Once they complete the gift information on Network for Good, donors can check a box to have their gift applied to the overall One Day for UK total.
On April 17, all supporters should visit https://onedayforuk.uky.edu to make a gift, to track the campaign’s progress and to read stories about how the campaign benefits UK. All of the college, department and unit funds will be listed on that page.
To join the online conversation, people should follow #OneDayforUK on all social media platforms throughout March and April to learn more about the campaign and to discuss how donor support and UK shaped their lives. &