BYU-Idaho wants to bring together alumni, community members and current students to donate to scholarships on its annual BYU-Idaho Giving Day.
Olivia Burnett, the brand and marketing manager for Philanthropies, an arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says while Giving Day is fairly new, the donations help students in multiple ways.
“Our goal is to bring together donors and students and friends and family and just rally around BYU-Idaho and its mission to just donate and help students and help empower the mission of BYU-Idaho of developing disciples of Jesus Christ in their homes, families, and communities,” Burnett says.
Burnett says all donations will go to BYU-Idaho and its students, and this year they have a goal to surpass their donor goal from last year.
“This year we have a goal of 600 donors,” Burnett says. “We hit our goal of 500 donors across the United States. So, we tried to light the map up with donors across the United States and it’s so fun to see states light up and people donate from everywhere. And it engages alumni.”
This year marks 25 years since the announcement that Ricks College would become BYU-Idaho. Burnett says President Alvin F. Meredith III would really like people to remember this important anniversary.
“So that is something that President Meredith really is wanting to focus on, this idea of 25, giving 25 in 2025,” Burnett says. “So, we’re sharing a lot of student and alumni stories.”
Burnett says getting to work with Philanthropies has shown her the promise the Lord makes to His followers, to magnify their best efforts.
“It really has been such testimony builder to me of just seeing the Lord’s work because it’s just like there’s a special spirit here,” she says. “Anyone who comes on campus at BYU-Idaho feels it. And that spirit is harnesses in this campaign.”
To donate to BYU-Idaho's Giving Day campaign, you can go to giving.byui.edu.
To learn more and listen to the full interview with Olivia Burnett, go to BYU-Idaho Radio’s podcast on Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.