RALEIGH, NC (NOV. 28, 2017) – Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. SAU seeks to raise $5,000 to go towards the institution’s annual fund, which contributes to the day-to-day operations of the University. Occurring this year on November 28, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the US) and the widely recognized shopping events, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, to kick off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.
As a private, not-for-profit, tuition-funded institution, Saint Augustine’s University relies on the contributions of alumni, corporate partners and community supporters. This year’s Giving Tuesday campaign was an effort of the University’s Office of Institutional Advancement and Development to present the value proposition of SAU – it’s students – on a larger scale, during a time when philanthropy is at an all-time high.
On the importance of the #GivingTuesday campaign, Dr. Steven E. Hairston, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chief Operating Officer stated, “This is a great opportunity to share the stories of SAU students, and to support them in a major way.”
92Y − a cultural center in New York City that, since 1874, has been bringing people together around its core values of community service and giving back − conceptualized #GivingTuesday as a new way of linking individuals and causes to strengthen communities and encourage giving. In 2016, the fifth year of #GivingTuesday, millions of people in 98 countries came together to give back and support the causes they believe in. Over $177 million was raised online to benefit a tremendously broad range of organizations, and much more was given in volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and acts of kindness.
“We have been incredibly inspired by the generosity in time, efforts and ideas that have brought our concept for a worldwide movement into reality,” said Henry Timms, founder of #GivingTuesday and executive director of 92Y. “As we embark on our sixth year of #GivingTuesday, we are encouraged by the early response from partner’s eager to continue making an impact in this global conversation.”
Those who are interested in joining SAU’s #GivingTuesday initiative can visit giving.st-aug.edu, text GIVE and your donation amount to 919.666.3142 or give by phone at 919.516.4092. For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow @GivingTues and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on social media.
–Office of Marketing and Communications
