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Help Fellow Knights, Remember UCF on Giving Tuesday

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is known as Giving Tuesday and UCF wants to remind that donations to UCF make a difference every day.

Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 by the U.N. Foundation in partnership with a New York cultural and community center. The goal was to remind consumers who spend money on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales that nonprofit organizations need their help too.

Donations to UCF can be made through the UCF Foundation. This year, UCF is earmarking money to programs that make a direct impact on students. Donors can select to give money to: the First Generation College Student Scholarship fund , UCF Student Emergency Fund, Knights Helping Knights Pantry and Everyday Champions (student-athlete academic scholarships).

Any gift, regardless of size, can make a difference.

For example, last summer 44 students displaced by a fire at the nearby Tivoli Apartments benefited from $22,000 worth of donations to the UCF Emergency Fund. Many of the donations were in the $25 to $50 range. Student received $500 to help them with food and personal items. The Knights Pantry also provided gift cards and supplies that were donated for those impacted by the fire.

The gift cards were just a small part of what the pantry does every year for fellow Knights. Students started the food pantry in 2009 with the goal of never having a student forced to choose between buying food or textbooks. The first year of operation they provided food to about 6,000 students. This past year, the pantry helped 13,000 Knights by providing food, toiletries and some basic school supplies. This semester the pantry also began a blazers and professional attire lending program. Students who need professional clothing for job interviews can borrow items so appearance isn’t an obstacle to landing a job.

Watch UCF’s social media accounts on Tuesday for stories and information about the services provided thanks to donations made to these four important funds.