Parts of this article are reprinted from fresnostatenews.com. 

Fresno State announced a new campaign for the public to support the University’s student success initiatives with its first Day of Giving (D.O.G.) — a 24-hour digital fundraising campaign on Thursday, Nov. 2.

With the theme “Time to Feed the D.O.G.,” the one-day drive will encourage the University’s external audience, including alumni, donors, community leaders and friends, to make a gift online to one of Fresno State’s eight schools and colleges or the program of their choice.

The Fresno State Day of Giving website will feature live leaderboards and trackers updating the money raised for the entire campus throughout the day at: dayofgiving.fresnostate.edu.

Dedicated giving days have become popular at many universities across the nation, and this is Fresno State’s first-ever Day of Giving. The model can be traced back to the Case Foundation’s America’s Giving Challenge in 2007, which encouraged people to rally their online networks to make giving easier and a part of their daily lives. Giving days have since been used with notable success by higher education institutions and community foundations, sometimes raising millions of dollars in a 24-hour period.

A pajama party at 10 p.m. on Wednesday at the Peters Business building will lead up to the drive’s midnight start. At 5 a.m. on Thursday, the Shehadey Tower (Shaw and Chestnut avenues) at the Save Mart Center will be lit red to signify Bulldog pride.

From 5 to 9 am., student mini-rallies at intersections surrounding the campus will help promote the campaign. Students will hold signs expressing Fresno State pride as well as gratitude for community support of the University.

A friendly competition between Fresno State’s eight schools and colleges, Department of Athletics, Fresno State Alumni Association, Henry Madden Library, Central Funds (President’s Circle and Fresno State Annual Fund) plus the divisions of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Graduate Studies, Continuing and Global Education will include daily and hourly challenges throughout the day with various cash incentives. A total of $75,000 has already been donated for a bonus chest that will be awarded to units winning each challenge.

The College of Health and Human Services has identified three project areas to receive funding, including:

  • Student Success Fund
  • Community Health Mobile Unit
  • E.D.G.E. Challenge Ropes Course

To learn more about each of these areas, check out the CHHS Day of Giving page. Donors will have the option to give to any area of their choice and are not limited to these three project areas.

“The purpose of the campaign is to launch a powerful, 24-hour online fundraising marathon that rallies students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends to come together to give back and celebrate Fresno State,” said Paula Castadio, Fresno State’s vice president for University Advancement.

University President Joseph I. Castro said the campaign will help enable the University to succeed in its academic mission to boldly educate and empower students for success.

“Day of Giving gifts, no matter how big or small, will make an impact on the next generation of students and show the bold things we can accomplish when the University and community work together as one,” Castro said .

For more information, contact Jennifer Mariucci at 858.284.9134 or jenmariucci@mail.fresnostate.edu, or see the D.O.G. Frequently Asked Questions page: https://dayofgiving.fresnostate.edu/giving-day/4022/faq.