Illinois State University promotes Giving Tuesday

Posted on December 1, 2015
Lora Way
ISU’s director of annual giving Lora way says the university reached 500 donors within a few hours on Giving Tuesday in 2014. (Photo by Laura Ewan/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Today is Giving Tuesday, and Illinois State University officials hope the Redbird community is in a giving mood.

ISU’s Director for Annual Giving, Lora Wey, told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin, she had no idea what to expect in ISU’s first ‘Giving Tuesday’ fundraiser last year.

“We hoped we could get to 500 donors we didn’t know if or when,” Wey said. “We were able to make that announcement at 10:15 that morning that we had reach the 500 donors and it kept going. We ended up with 1,273 gifts.”

Those gifts brought in $323,000 for ISU, which went toward things like scholarships, music and athletics.

Wey said if 500 donors come forward, that will unlock and additional $60,000 alumni donation.

Donors are encouraged to share their support for Illinois State by using #GivingTuesdayISU on social media. The outreach includes a large thank you card on the ISU Quad that students can sign.

“It’s about participation. We do like to think we are a giving priority in people’s homes, but this is a broader message,” Wey said. “This is about philanthropy nationwide and supporting your passion whether it’s Illinois state or anywhere else.”

Heartland Community College also has a Giving Tuesday link on its website.

More than 600 charities in Illinois received contributions through Giving Tuesday last year. A list of participating charities can be found at www.ilgive.com.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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