UPDATED: Illinois State engaging students on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday thank you card
A “thank you” card was made available near Milner Library for students to sign. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski and Eric Stock

NORMAL – Illinois State University used Giving Tuesday as an opportunity to engage more than just alumni and friends of the school.

ISU Executive Director of Annual Giving Laura Wey said it’s also an opportunity to engage students.

“We’re really trying to change to culture of philanthropy here and we have found that in the last three years Giving Tuesday has really helped us to do that,” she said.

Wey added one communications professor challenged his class to donate, and matched the amount his 55 students came up with. The school also made a big “thank you” card available near Milner Library for students to sign to thank everyone donating to ISU.

The campaign brought in $584,000 from more than 1,524 donors.

Last year ISU saw more than $550,000 come in the form of close to 1,500 gifts. More information is at givingtuesday.illinoisstate.edu.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…