During ‘Thank You Day,’ students and faculty showed their appreciation for 125 years of contributions to campus education on the Brickyard.
Annual Giving is an organization that helps bring donors who support N.C . State through alumni and private gifts. These contributions help increase scholarships, strengthen curricula, fund community service, enrich the library, and sponsor the arts.
On March 29, the organization hosted the first ‘Thank You Day’ from 10 a.m . to 2 p.m . to acknowledge N.C . State’s donors and their ongoing support of Wolfpack education. The ‘Thank You Day’ celebration included a giant thank-you card for students to sign, 500 free shirts and much more.
“The ‘Thank You Day’ card is for students to show their appreciation to donors and alumni. We just want to thank them for everything they do for our education,” Mary Brooks, senior in business management and employee of the N.C . State Annual Fund office support, said.
Students were also entered into drawings to win $10-$25 gift certificates to Noodles & Co., East Village Grill, Hot Box Pizza and Chipotle. Howling Cow ice cream and a ‘congratulations’ cake were also served for dessert.
Donors help maintain affordable tuition by lessening the gap between the cost of tuition and what students pay in tuition and fees, maintaining the University’s reputation as the best value institution.
Alumni and donor contributions make up 23 percent of funding for N.C . State. Last year, the University had an alumni donor count of 13,713. This year, Annual Giving hopes to increase that number.
”Twenty-three percent of funding comes from donors who are alumni,” Amanda Pessicek , from the office of annual giving, said. “Most students are unaware of the great contributions from alumni until they graduate; then they understand how it works. This event was created for that sole purpose, to educate students on the importance of giving back to N.C . State.”
All alumni and donor contributions continue to enhance students’ experiences while attending N.C . State.
‘Thank You Day,’ in conjunction with the senior class gift campaign, hopes to maintain and increase the involvement of alumni through the new Choice campaign. The Choice campaign asks all graduating students to make a contribution of $20.12, or more, to the area of their choice.
“UNC rankings also take into account alumni participation. High alumni participation helps N.C . State maintain its ranking among other educational institutions and keeps the value of the University degree,” Pessicek said.
The Choice campaign hopes to reach a goal of 10 percent class participation and establish a new tradition of support for N.C . State students, making a mark across campus through giving back.
“N.C . State is full of philanthropy. This event recognizes that great quality about the University, and continues to motivate students to follow that tradition,” Pessicek said
Gifts from the campaign will go to any department that the donor wishes- Student Affairs, the arts or the library, for example. This gives seniors the opportunity to choose where their contribution goes at N.C . State.
Students who give donations will receive a thank-you letter from the senior class president, and be recognized in the 2012 SCGC honor roll on Facebook and on the senior class website.
Donors of $20.12 or more will also receive a class lapel pin and an invitation to the Burgers and Brew event with Chancellor Randy Woodson. Seniors who are interested in participating in the campaign and becoming a donor, can visit www. http:// giving.ncsu.edu .
“I’m currently a freshman, but I will definitely be giving back once I graduate. I want to help future students the same way I have received help from others,” Omri Jones, freshman in First Year College, said.
