13 Ways to Make a Difference on Saint Joseph’s Day of Giving

Saint Joseph’s annual Day of Giving is back this year with more volunteers, more challenges — and a tall order to surpass last year’s record of 3,800 donors and more than $534,000 raised in just 24 hours. The fundraiser, which kicks off on Monday, March 21, aims to support Saint Joseph’s signature programs, initiatives and future Hawks through 13 themed challenges spread throughout the day.

“It is so important that we give back what we can to the school that gives us so much,” says Michael Rath, director of the Saint Joseph’s Fund. “Whether you give to scholarship and financial aid, Hawk athletics, or diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, your gift opens access to a St. Joe's education for the most talented and high-potential students.”

Hawks can participate near and far: on campus, online, or at one of two regional alumni chapter happy hours in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. A team of over 130 Day of Giving Ambassadors will also be spreading the word about challenges and goals via email, social media and word of mouth. 

“I am so thrilled with the amount of alumni, faculty, staff, students and community members who will be involved on this year's Day of Giving,” says Rath.

Share your support by using #HawksWithAndForOthers and #StJoesGives on your social media posts. For the latest information, visit the Hawks With and For Others Day of Giving website.
 

13 Opportunities to Give

1. Saint Joseph's Fund (Financial Aid)

Show your commitment as a Hawk with and for others by making a gift to the Saint Joseph’s Fund, which supports financial aid and merit-based scholarships for Saint Joseph’s students. 

"Because of my scholarship, I realized going to college wasn’t going to be a hardship for me and my family," says Sophia Pringle ’23. "And now, I am looking at graduate schools to become a physician assistant."

Challenge: Alumnus Dave Dorsey ’54 has challenged the Saint Joseph’s community. If 400 people make a gift toward the Saint Joseph's Fund (Financial Aid) on March 21, he will give $4,000 to support scholarships and financial aid!

2. Hawk Athletic Fund

Support transformational student-athlete experiences and competitive excellence through the Hawk Athletic Fund.

Challenges: Through the generosity of Evelyn and Anthony '60 Carfagno, challenge gifts are available for Saint Joseph’s varsity teams to build excitement and increase participation. 

1. Athletics Support Fund Challenge: To reach the goal of 100 donors to the Hawk Athletics Support Fund, anyone who gives $10 or more will be entered into a raffle to win two courtside tickets to a men’s basketball game.
2. Total Individual Gifts Challenge: Two $5,000 prizes are on the line for the top men’s and women’s varsity teams. The team with the greatest number of individual gifts secures the funding.
3. Student-Athlete Alumni Participation Challenge: An additional $1,000 in funding will go to the team with the highest percentage of former players making a gift.

3. Student-In-Need Fund

This fund provides assistance to current students experiencing financial shortfalls on their path to graduation. Resources like textbook scholarships, assistance with transportation, purchases of professional clothing for interviews and much more are provided to ensure students have what they need to succeed.

“... Giving back, knowing that today’s students are tomorrow's leaders, is easy. And I feel good knowing that in some small way that I’m helping the next generation of Hawks,” says Jim Moran ’86.

Challenge: Jim Moran '86 has challenged the University community, matching dollar for dollar up to $1,000!

4. Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support

Honor a decade of student success through the ASPIRE College Support Program. Saint Joseph’s undergraduates with autism have defied national statistics, and vastly out-perform other collegiate programs.

Challenge: If the Kinney Center collects 100 gifts of any size before noon on March 21, $10,000 will be released to support the next decade of ASPIRE innovations.

5. DEI Leadership and Student Mentoring Fund

Gifts to this initiative will support the DEI Leadership and Student Mentoring program, a new program within the Center for Inclusion and Diversity, designed to recruit a cohort of high-potential, underrepresented students with leadership capacity each year. Students will cultivate their skills and grow as leaders on campus and beyond.

Challenge: Doneene Damon ’89 will match dollar for dollar every gift to the DEI Leadership and Student Mentoring program up to $5,000!

6. D.C. vs. NYC Scholarship Challenge

Saint Joseph’s most active regional alumni groups — Washington, D.C., and New York City — will go head to head to raise scholarship funds for students. Last year, D.C. beat out New York, but this year is anyone’s game!

7. We CARE

Nearly half of American families have been impacted by substance abuse disorder. At Saint Joseph’s, we offer support to those affected through outreach, training and research. Support these initiatives by making a gift to the University's Center for Addiction and Recovery Education.

“As someone who is currently in recovery, I am inspired by the great work that is done to equip our campuses and communities with the tools to help those who are struggling with addiction and those in recovery," says Chris Therien, member of the CARE external advisory board, chief wellness officer of Limitless Recovery, and former Philadelphia Flyer.

Challenge: If we reach 197 CARE donors, Dan Amoroso ’70 will give $1,970 to support these efforts!

8. Food Marketing Challenge

A gift to the Academy of Food Marketing makes a direct impact on food marketing students at Saint Joseph's through scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, co-op support and more.

Challenge: John Machuzick ’78 has offered to match all alumni donations to the Academy of Food Marketing if other donors raise $50,000 by March 21.

9. Frances M. Maguire Art Museum

The Frances M. Maguire Art Museum aims to raise $15,000 in order to support educational programming, workshops and events for current students and the surrounding community; sourcing and acquiring works of art to diversify the University collection; and training students as docents for the museum.

Challenge: Day of Giving donations will have more impact than ever before. Carmen Croce '71 has generously offered two giving challenges: He will match dollar for dollar up to $5,000, and if we reach 250 donors, he will give an additional $5,000!

10. Adopt an Animal

Symbolically adopt an animal by becoming a monthly donor through supporting the Biodiversity Lab! Every month, donors will receive a picture or short video of the animal they have adopted along with news on that animal and on their species as a whole.

“The Biodiversity Lab is a perfect example of the ethical growth and awareness of the St. Joe's community and its commitment to excellence,” says alumna Mary Connors ’74.

Challenges: An anonymous donor is willing to match dollar for dollar up to $2,000 for all support towards the Biodiversity Lab! Additionally, Mary Conners ’74 was so inspired by the work through the Biodiversity lab that she will give an additional $1,000 if we reach 100 donors.

11. Haub School of Business

By supporting Haub School of Business initiatives such as the Pedro Arrupe Center, you will provide support for faculty research and curricular development; public lectures and classroom executive speakers; and students with the opportunity to do meaningful work with nonprofit organizations and with the United Nations.

12. College of Arts and Sciences

Your support of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Excellence Fund and other funds allows our students to be ready to engage in the world around us and work with a sense of purpose.

13. School of Health Studies and Education

Support School of Health Studies and Education initiatives such as the Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series, which provides informative and engaging discussion, directed by experts around innovation, inclusion, leadership, equity and excellence in all aspects of education, mental health and wellness, addiction studies, and other aspects of human development.