More than 1,100 donors contributed over $75,000 during St. Joseph’s College first Giving Day on May 1 — obliterating the fundraising project’s goal to raise funds from at least 400 donors.
SJC’s Giving Day campaign was a 24-hour fundraiser, celebrating St. Joseph the Worker Day. Donors help the cause by supporting the SJC Fund and an array worthy projects proposed by St. Joseph’s students, faculty and staff. The SJC Fund is integral to providing scholarship support and important experiences on and off campus.
“The generosity and outpouring of support from the SJC community for the inaugural Giving Day was inspiring,” said Rory Shaffer-Walsh, vice president of institutional advancement. “The excitement and anticipation of being part of something large and transformative motivated our alumni, students, faculty and staff, parents and friends today.”
Most program campaigns across both campuses already surpassed their goals, including the Golden Eagle Athletic Fund, the Student Emergency Fund, the Alternative Spring Break Fund, and the SJC Bears Athletics Travel Campaign, which raised more than $14,000.
“The astonishing and positive response for our first Giving Day by the College community, alumni and lovers of St. Joseph’s from all quarters has been wonderful,” said St. Joseph’s President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D. “I know that these gifts are symbols of the love so many have for our College, and for all we stand for.”
Giving to a Special Cause
Shaheera Yousuf, a freshman at SJC Long Island, said she donated to support the College’s affordability.
“The reason I like to give to St. Joseph’s is I like to support the scholarship funds,” she said.
Barbara Traola ’72, assistant professor of child study and special education placement coordinator at SJC Long Island, added to that sentiment.
“I give to pay it forward and to preserve the traditions and values that I received at St. Joseph’s College,” she said.
At SJC Brooklyn, there was a lot of excitement surrounding individual project campaigns.
“In the morning we had a bunch of nursing students come by,” said Judy Ganeles, associate director prospect research, as she sat behind a Giving Day table in McEntegart Hall. “They were really enthusiastic about the Pumped for Pumps fund.”
The “Pumped for Pumps — IVs, Not Shoes” fund was created to purchase new IVs for nursing students to use in the nursing labs.
“Donors like to give to change and to have flexibility and control over their giving,” Shaffer-Walsh said. “The SJC Giving Day gave them those opportunities and in turn they responded in mass.”
