The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association hosted the third annual Day of the Badger last week from April 5 to 6. The fundraising campaign is an opportunity for alumni, friends, faculty and students to celebrate UW-Madison and raise funds to support the university.
The donation time span is 1,848 minutes — the year when UW-Madison was founded — to encourage participants to make an impact and donate within a short amount of time.
The philanthropic event raised a total of $1,741,945, with many donations having been matched by different alumni chapters spanning the country.
Participation was recorded from all 50 states and 19 countries. More than 5,600 gifts were pledged to over 100 programs, all from over 4,000 participants. The university’s greatest needs were supported like the Chancellor’s Annual Fund, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Emergency Student Support and Tuition Assistance.
“Generous gifts during Day of the Badger support the heart of our land-grant mission,” said Tod Pritchard, WFAA director of Media and Public Relations. “From ensuring affordable, accessible education through scholarships to unlocking potential for our state through funding research, donors during Day of the Badger supported more than 140 areas that will move UW forward.”
These main initiatives and departments fund efforts to cover scholarships, student services, career support, research funding, campus cultural initiatives and programs like Bucky’s Tuition Promise, which covers full tuition expenses for recipients.
The fundraiser brought in more than $164,000 to support diversity and inclusion on campus. Donations will go to funds like the Raimey-Noland Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund to support campus-wide efforts to promote a welcoming community at UW-Madison.
Day of the Badger also helps keep Badger pride alive by connecting alumni, community members and associates of the university across the world.
“Day of the Badger is the most energized philanthropic moment each year for students, alumni, faculty/staff and friends of UW-Madison,” said Pritchard. “Day of the Badger uniquely unites the whole campus in getting involved through giving, wearing red and staying connected with Badgers globally.”
Individual departments, schools and colleges set campaign goals of desired funds or number of donors hoped to be reached, many of which were surpassed. Every department was impacted, as well as other specific organizations on campus, such as Recreation and Wellbeing, the Union and Hillel.
The fundraiser’s donations will be distributed over the coming weeks, and Day of the Badger will return for the 2023 school year.
