Inaugural event celebrates the impact of philanthropy, service and gratitude
Kent State University’s connection to philanthropy runs deep. The very land used for the creation of the university in 1910 came from the charitable gift of a 53-acre farm by William S. Kent. Since then, the university has continued to grow, and its philanthropic culture has flourished because of the many forms of generosity from members of the university’s community.
In an effort to recognize the many individuals who impact the university through gifts of time, service and monetary support, Kent State is introducing Philanthropy Week. Beginning Monday, April 16, and culminating in the 10th annual Alumni Day of Service on Saturday, April 21, this weeklong event highlights the university’s rich history of philanthropy and recognizes all those who contribute to a distinctive Kent State.
“Around Kent State, you’ll often hear the phrase, ‘respect and kindness in all we do,’” said Leigh Greenfelder, assistant vice president for Kent State Advancement Communications. “This is truly emblematic of the Kent State culture, which shows in the philanthropic support we receive from alumni, employees and friends. These gifts of time and treasure change the future for our students in ways beyond measurement.”
Students, faculty, staff, donors, alumni, friends and others are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways. The following major events will take place during the week:
- April 18: Thank-A-Giver (TAG) Day – Tags will be hung throughout the Kent Campus to visually demonstrate the tremendous impact of philanthropy at Kent State. From 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Risman Plaza will be TAG Day central with opportunities for those on the Kent Campus to enter a raffle, enjoy free food and entertainment and sign a giant thank-you card to donors. Those off the Kent Campus can still enter the raffle and express their gratitude or reason for giving through our virtual TAG Day at www.kent.edu/PWeek/TAGday.
- April 20: Celebration of Service and Engagement – Kent State’s Community Engaged Learning office is celebrating “outstanding service, engagement and social justice initiatives by members of the Kent State University community.” During the event, Kent State will recognize community partners and their role in engaging students. Registration deadline for the awards ceremony is April 16 at www.kent.edu/community/celebration.
- April 21: 10th Annual Alumni Day of Service and first-ever Kent State Day of Service – Through these two events, Kent State alumni, students, faculty, staff and others throughout the world will be serving their communities at various project sites, demonstrating how Flashes Give Back. Alumni participants are encouraged to share their projects by visiting the site.
There also will be an opportunity to donate or support a featured fund during this event at www.kent.edu/PWeek. Those who choose to become a crowdfunder on behalf of a particular fund can create a profile explaining why this fund is important to them, set a fundraising goal and share that page with their personal network to encourage donations. One of the main featured funds for Philanthropy Week is the Last Dollar Scholarship, an emergency fund available at all campuses for qualifying students whose education may be at risk due to unforeseen financial hardships.
“Receiving [the Last Dollar Scholarship] meant a lot to me because it meant that there are people who understood that maybe some students needed some extra help, that maybe they weren’t living the traditional college life,” said Julie Marotta, a 2017 Kent State graduate. “I’d say thank you for believing in me … and thank you for taking the stress off of my last semester so I could focus on my studies.”
Philanthropy Week is also about having fun while learning. The Philanthropy Week Passport offers six categories for participation: social media sharing about Philanthropy Week, crowdfunding, attending TAG Day (in person or virtually), completing the Flash Quiz, attending the Celebration of Service and Engagement or attending Alumni Day of Service. Participation in any of these six categories will enter an individual into a raffle to win a prize for that category. Learn more at www.kent.edu/PWeek. Those who participate in three or more activities will automatically be entered to win a grand prize.
For more information about Kent State’s Philanthropy Week, visit www.kent.edu/PWeek.
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Media Contacts:
Leigh Greenfelder, lgreenfe@kent.edu, 330-672-7108
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595