On Wednesday, SIU kicked off its 150th Anniversary celebration with our third annual Day of Giving. It was an appropriate launch, as our university has always relied on its donors and community to ensure that SIU students advance and thrive.
Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered or otherwise worked to make our Day of Giving far exceed expectations. While the SIU Foundation team is still adding the gifts that came in offline, we already know we raised almost $867,000 from more than 2,400 gifts. Donors came from 45 states and 10 countries – a sign of SIU’s wide reach.
We are fortunate to be part of such a warm, supportive and welcoming Saluki family.
From the donations to the events in Morris Library, the Student Center and across campus, it was truly an amazing day. I was so pleased to see the engagement of the entire university community. We came together to accomplish something big for SIU.
Giving students a chance
Whether coming to SIU directly out of high school, after military service, or simply continuing their education after life got in the way, our students get the opportunity to better their lives and the world around them, thanks to the generous donors who give on SIU Day and throughout the year.
Many of our alumni say that SIU gave them a chance, even when others would not. This is especially true of first-generation students, whose families do not always have the means to support them through the unique challenges of college life. These students, and many others, rely on the support of mentors and donors to push them toward success.
That is the legacy you are helping to continue — the fact that at SIU, it’s personal.
Sharing time and talent
I also want to say thank you to the members of our Saluki family — whether they are alumni, students, part of our faculty or staff, or community members — who give in non-monetary ways.
The university benefits from your time, knowledge and energy.
No matter how you choose to give, you are making a personal, powerful and positive difference for SIU and its students – a difference that will set the stage for the next 150 years. Thank you.