Financial support that can help increase equity, inclusion and a sense of belonging at the University of Washington Bothell are at the heart of this year’s Husky Giving Day on April 7. During the 24-hour giving campaign, donors to the UW can choose from a range of ways to support people, programs and projects all across the University.
As part of UW Bothell’s strategic plan to “strengthen diversity and equity” and to “enhance community and campus engagement,” donors to UW Bothell are being asked to focus their charitable contributions on a few key funds.
This includes the Black Opportunity Fund, the Student Diversity Center Dream Fund, and the STEM Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund to help support students while creating systemic change.
The other UW Bothell campaign priorities are the Student Emergency Fund and the Husky Pantry Fund that support students’ basic needs so that they can focus on staying in school and completing their degrees.
More ways to get involved
Raising awareness and sharing stories through social media are just as important as fundraising during Husky Giving Day.
“There’s more than one way to make an impact,” said Brandon Washington, UW Bothell’s manager of philanthropy and annual giving. “Sharing your story, becoming an ambassador and celebrating the collective impact of our campus community are all ways to get involved.”
UW Bothell social media content on April 7 will point donors to the Husky Giving Day website — and the alumni engagement team has created game-show-themed content to encourage alumni and community members to support UW Bothell students.
Alumni, friends of the University, students, faculty and staff can amplify the impact of the 24-hour campaign by re-sharing UW Bothell alumni content on their own social media profiles, adding their personal stories and using the hashtags #HuskyGivingDay, #UWB and #UWBproud.
Additionally, the campus will highlight equity-focused funds within the University’s five schools and various departments. Each school will share giving challenges designed to boost engagement and to make the community’s collective philanthropic impact more equitable.
All Husky Giving Day participants can share hashtags and stories from the UW Bothell Alumni Instagram, Twitter and Facebook channels in order to unlock matching funds from generous UW Bothell donors.
A community that shows up
The first annual Husky Giving Day took place in 2019, but the 2020 event was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, Husky Giving Day returned with a focus on student emergency support and on helping students weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The collective experience is important,” said Jessica Newkirk, associate director of alumni engagement. “Husky Giving Day is a chance for everyone to work together to invest in UW Bothell’s future and to celebrate the work we all do the rest of the year.
“I love seeing our community show up for students, year after year.”
