April 8 at 5 p.m. marks the start of a 1,848-minute-long Day of the Badger put on by the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association.
Ending Tuesday, April 9, at midnight, the event seeks to “unite Badgers in an effort to advance the mission of the university by bringing awareness to its achievements and raising critical funds to help the UW remain a world-class educational institution,” according to its website.
In short, the day (and additional 408 minutes) aims to raise money for the university, its various colleges and specific causes Badger supporters may be interested in donating to.
One student group helping to ensure the success of the campaign is the Wisconsin Alumni Student Board. WASB is one of two student organizations directly under the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association joining the Homecoming Committee.
“For WASB, our whole message is to connect Badgers past, present and future,” WASB member Sophia Gunderson said. “I feel like the Day of the Badger calls out to that middle category of the present and how it can help with people who are on campus right now. It’s a way to become hands on in that role.”
WASB members tend to help out with events such as the Day of the Badger, according to Gunderson.
The day of giving invites anyone with a passion to UW and its future to become involved. Upon entering the site, users can navigate to certain programs within the university they are passionate about. Each program has created specific areas for which money can be directed.
For example, if a donor is interested in giving to the School of Engineering, they have their choice of nine donation options within the college.
Donors can also contribute to student activity-specific causes such as UW athletics, student groups such as Hillel, the Wisconsin Union, the Chazen Art Museum and the UW Marching Band, among others.
According to the event’s website, “it’s a day (and then some) for all alumni, students, and friends throughout Badger nation to give to their passion, show their pride, and stay connected to the university.”
