Did you know that Dec. 3 is #GivingTuesday, a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season? It’s the perfect time for Colonials around the world to come together to kick off the season of giving!
Here are ten reasons for you to be a part of the action with GW:
1. Join alumni around the world on Dec. 3, 2013 to be a part of something big. Last fiscal year, more than 18,000 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and friends made a gift. With your support, we can make this year an even bigger success!
2. Keep 500 student orgs and a vibrant student life thriving. From politics and residence hall life, to club sports and service organizations, a GW education doesn’t just happen in the classroom. The only-at-GW experience goes beyond world famous speakers and commencement on the Ellipse—it’s about a community of Colonials living and learning in the nation’s capital.
3. GW students are thankful for the support of alumni year after year. Before Thanksgiving, students were asked what they were thankful for their GW experience. Take a look at what they shared.
4. A dedication to service is a core part of what it means to be a Colonial. Thousands of GW students give back every year through their student organizations, volunteer activities, and through programs like Alternative Breaks, Freshman Day of Service and MLK Day of Service. According to the Aspen Institute, GW produced the second most professionals in non-profits and government among national universities.
5. Financial challenges shouldn’t stop someone from interning and exploring a career path. The Knowledge in Action Fund awarded 37 GW students grants to pursue unpaid internships at organizations like the Mayo Clinic and the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
6. GW students continue to serve others even after they graduate. GW was a top 20 medium-size university for its contributions to Teach For America’s 2013 corps. About 7% of GW grads applied for the program, and 37 were selected just last year.
7. Political pride is first nature at GW, and a unique part of who we are. The Princeton Review named GW students as the nation’s most politically active, based on a survey of 126,000 students around the country who answered the question “how popular are political/activist groups on your campus?”
8. The culture of philanthropy is growing at GW. Last year, the 2013 Senior Class Gift Campaign made history with a record-breaking 54% class participation. The Class of 2014 is already setting its sights on new heights for this year’s campaign.
9. Scholarships are crucial to attracting the best and brightest students to GW. With 3/5 of all students receiving aid, the GW experience is possible for many because of scholarships. Sean Jamieson, ESIA BA ’03, gives back to Power & Promise for scholarships “because it eases the financial burden of higher education for students, allowing them to focus on their academic ingenuity.”
10. Because your gift on #GivingTuesday will make a difference. Last year, gifts of $100 and less totaled over $1 million. Whether you designate your support to scholarships, an academic department or school, student organization or service initiative—it will make a difference. Gifts of any size add up and have a direct impact on GW students.
Join us as thousands of alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and students celebrate the rich history of service and philanthropy that is at the core of what it means to be a part of GW — make a gift on Giving Tuesday 2013!
