The command center at the UCF Foundation was buzzing with activity. Formally known as an everyday conference room tucked in the back of the second floor of the foundation offices in Research Park, the room had been transformed for the day. Screens were being watched carefully and results were being analyzed, as a first-ever giving day made its debut.
UCF Day of Giving encouraged fans, friends, parents and alumni of UCF to support what they love at the university. Hoping to reach a goal of 1,000 donors by midnight on March 29, the day started off with a bang and never let up.
At 1:46 p.m., there was a rousing cheer in the command center. The goal of 1,000 donors had been met and the numbers just kept climbing. By the end of the day, more than $157,000 had been raised by 1,951 donors. The top five funds supported were: First Generation Scholarship Fund; the Marching Knights Band Building; Parent and Family Fund; UCF College of Business; and Area of Greatest Need.
Those who gave had lots of different reasons for doing so. Matt Assenmacher ’93 gave because he is “grateful for the opportunities UCF has provided to me both professionally and personally.” This sentiment was echoed by Woody Walker ’92 ’94, who says she gave because “UCF has done so much for me and my family, and it feels good to give back and make a small difference in the world.”
“I continue to be proud and amazed by the growth of UCF since I graduated. Our university continues to provide expanding academic and career opportunities for so many, but we truly need the support of our growing alumni base to help UCF reach its potential,” said Assenmacher.
In fact, the growing alumni base made up more than half — 55% — of donors on the UCF Day of Giving, with 35% of those givers being graduates from the last decade. Donors came from 33 states, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.