BYU-Idaho is set to host its first-ever Giving Day campaign, an event designed to unite the entire university community in support of the institution. Scheduled to take place on June 11 and 12, the campaign aims to inspire alumni, students, faculty and community members to help contribute what they can to the university’s growth and success.
The idea for Giving Day at BYU-Idaho is one that has been on the minds of all the members of the Philanthropies Department at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brigham Young University and BYU-Hawaii both had great successes with their campaigns and so it was time to try it in Idaho.
“We’ve been looking into doing a Giving Day campaign at BYU-Idaho for a few months now,” said Chad Mashburn, an intern for annual giving at the Philanthropies Department. “(BYU-Idaho) President (Alvin) Meredith is very focused on philanthropy and giving back to the university. Through many different conversations, we decided to pull the trigger and implement the Giving Day campaign at BYU-Idaho this year.”
Behind the scenes, organizing such a significant event involved extensive collaboration and effort from the Philanthropy Department. The team is in Provo, Utah, and they work hard to ensure the Giving Day campaigns go smoothly at each BYU school. Although it is a big task, they have tackled it together and are proud of their work, according to Mashburn.
Mashburn, who attended a few semesters at BYU-Idaho, feels connected to the project. He loves Rexburg and its people, so he encourages everyone who can donate anything they can to do so. All the funds raised for the school will be used to help students who need scholarships and financial assistance to attend and help the school get one step closer to its mission.
“BYU-Idaho is a global university. It’s connected with so many people around the world. I think this campaign is going to be able to reach a lot of people and touch a lot of people’s lives,” Mashburn said.
Looking ahead, Mashburn confirmed that the Philanthropy Department is already planning to keep Giving Day as an annual event at BYU-Idaho, this is only the first of many to come. They are more than excited about the event and hope it helps bring the community together.
The goal for this year’s Giving Day is to reach 500 donors. Donations of any size, as small as one dollar, are welcome. The Giving Day website has details on the campaign, the donor wall and other ways to get involved. You can find all that information at give.byui.edu/givingday24.