Saint Joseph’s Day of Giving Sets the Bar High

Saint Joseph’s annual Day of Giving is set to return this year with the goal of raising over $750,000 from at least 3,000 donors in 24 hours. The fundraiser kicks off on Tuesday, March 19. As in years past, Day of Giving aims to support Saint Joseph’s academic and athletic programs, DEI initiatives, and current and future Hawks through themed challenges spread throughout the day.

For this year’s iteration of the fundraising event, a renewed focus is being placed on gifts in support of scholarships and financial aid. Gifts made through the Saint Joseph’s Fund or various other scholarships are the most direct way to support the University’s SOAR for Today initiative, which is dedicated to raising the $125 million dollars prioritized for scholarships and financial aid under the ongoing SOAR Campaign.

“The team has worked hard to have this be a day that the entire University community can rally behind,” says Adam Gault, director of annual fund campaigns. “If that buy-in translates to a big day for scholarships and financial aid, that means we can continue to meet the needs of our current students while preparing to offer the next generation the transformative education that SJU provides.”

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

“It is an exciting time for St. Joe’s,” Gault continues. “We know that higher education is presented with many challenges but SJU continues to navigate these obstacles with an increased focus on the student experience. Our community makes that possible. We are counting on our alumni and friends to celebrate Saint Joseph’s University on March 19 by reflecting on all SJU means to them and by giving back. We are incredibly grateful.”

Share your support by using #SOARSJU on your Day of Giving social media posts. For the latest information, visit the Day of Giving website.

Funds and Challenges

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Saint Joseph’s Fund

As mentioned, making a gift in support of scholarships and financial aid through the Saint Joseph’s Fund or other various scholarships is the most direct way to support the SOAR for Today initiative. Scholarships and financial aid are the bridge for many to an education that lasts a lifetime. Making a gift of any size to the Saint Joseph’s Fund helps to provide this pathway for more students to have a transformational Saint Joseph’s education.

Challenges & Initiatives

Through the generosity of W.W. Smith Charitable Trust, the following scholarship funds will be unlocked:

• If there are 500 young alumni donors, then $50,000 will be unlocked.
• If there are 150 Golden Hawk and Golden Graduate donors, then $25,000 will be unlocked. 
• If there are 125 graduate student alumni donors, then $25,000 will be unlocked. 
• If there are 900 parent donors then $10,000 will be unlocked. 
• If there are 300 current student donors, then $10,000 will be unlocked.
• All gifts in support of the First-Generation scholarship will be matched. dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000, made possible through the generosity of Heather Newman-Wychozowycz, BS ’99, MBA ’05.

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Hawk Athletics

Show your commitment to the tradition of competitive excellence and transformative student-athlete experiences on Hawk Hill with a gift to Hawk Athletics. Challenge gifts are available for St. Joe’s varsity teams to build excitement and increase participation for our programs. Current and former student-athletes, coaches, Hawk parents, fans, staff, family and friends are encouraged to get involved! Every dollar contributed is an investment in providing the highest standard of holistic care for our student-athletes. 

Challenges & Initiatives

Student-Athlete Alumni Participation

This challenge is a rallying cry to all student-athlete alumni to support the team you know and love. The team with the highest percentage of student-athlete alumni participation in each head-to-head match-up will secure $2,500 in additional funding.

Total Individual Gifts

Every gift counts in this challenge to all Hawk fans and the student-athletes who inspire them. Two prizes of $5,000 each are on the line, one going to a women’s varsity team and the other to a men’s varsity team. The team with the greatest number of individual gifts — one person, one gift — will secure the additional funding.

Hawk Athletics Challenge

Help us reach our goal of 50 donors to Hawk Athletics on Saint Joseph’s Day of Giving. Your gift of $10 or more to Hawk Athletics will enter you into a raffle to win two courtside tickets to a men’s basketball game in the 2024-2025 season. *Game will be determined based on availability*

Current Student-Athlete Participation Challenge

Bragging rights are on the line for the team that has the highest current student-athlete participation! The team with the highest percentage of current student-athlete participation will be awarded a team meal. Your gift will also enter you into a raffle to win a Hawk Athletics Nike gear pack. One current student-athlete will be randomly selected to win after Saint Joseph’s Day of Giving.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

As a Jesuit university, we’re committed to educating and caring for the whole person, across all aspects of identity. We’re a community of unique individuals, sharing a deep sense of belonging — where voices are heard, opinions are respected, and our differences are celebrated and valued. On Saint Joseph’s Day of Giving, we invite you to make a gift in support of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives like Day of Dialogue, Ready to Launch and Running Start.

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Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support

Support the Kinney Center in educating the autism professionals of tomorrow while assisting individuals with autism today. Your gift of any size will unlock thousands of dollars in additional financial aid to ensure individuals with autism can have access to the programming necessary to reach their full potential in the workplace or in the classroom.

Challenges & Initiatives

Thanks to the generosity of Frank Reagoso ’73, the first 300 donors who make a $5 minimum gift to Kinney will be matched with $50 per donor. This means if 300 donors are reached, a total of $15,000 will be unlocked in support of the Kinney Center.

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College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences’ programs inspire a love of learning, a global way of thinking and a desire to create a positive impact. By donating to CAS you empower students to broaden their knowledge and worldview. Your gift supports a combination of rigorous academics, experiential learning and guidance from dedicated faculty, which provides our students with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed for success in a complex, fast-changing world.

Challenges & Initiatives

All gifts in support of the John P. McNulty Program for Leadership in Science and Mathematics will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000, made possible through a generous gift from an anonymous donor.

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Haub School of Business

By making a gift to the Erivan K. Haub School of Business you are strengthening the commitment of SJU to help our students thrive in a world where technology-driven mindsets and models will change the nature of business. The top-ranked business programs in the Haub School of Business prepare graduates for an era where data analytics, artificial intelligence, digital supply chains, just-in-time learning and other new realities will present unprecedented challenges and opportunities.

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School of Health Professions Scholarship Fund

Make a gift to the School of Health Professions Scholarship Fund to sponsor the next generation of leaders, innovators and skilled practitioners in healthcare and science. Your contribution will help prepare compassionate healthcare providers. If you want to target your gift to a specific field, there are also funds supporting the fields of occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, exercise science and more.

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Philadelphia College of Pharmacy

Make a gift to the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Scholarship Fund to provide support for students in the doctoral program that prepares them to be practice-ready pharmacists through a competency-driven curriculum and training in 400+ sites worldwide. Your support continues the legacy of the first college of pharmacy in the country.

Challenges & Initiatives

All gifts in support of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Scholarship Fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000, made possible through the generosity of Ed Mercadante, BPharm ’79.

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School of Education and Human Development Scholarship Fund

Make your gift to the School of Education and Human Development Scholarship Fund to support students preparing for careers in sectors that are more than jobs, they are passion and purpose. The School of Education and Human Development challenges students to embrace the Jesuit concept of cura personalis — care for the whole person — in their professions, in the way that they serve students, families, clients and communities.

Challenges & Initiatives

For a second consecutive year, through the generosity of Eric and Adrianna Lubaczewski P'25, every dollar raised up to $10,000 for the Alliance for Catholic Education at Saint Joseph’s University (ACESJU) will be matched. Please consider supporting ACESJU and making a difference for the future of our education students.

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Student Support Fund

The sole purpose of the Student Support Fund is to provide financial assistance for students facing unexpected expenses, not including tuition and fees. The Student Support Fund covers textbooks, access codes for online assignments, lab materials and art supplies. The fund also provides funds for food, transportation and stolen or damaged property.

Challenges & Initiatives

If there are 100 donors to the Student Support Fund, then $2,000 will be unlocked by a generous anonymous donor.

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The Frances M. Maguire Art Museum

The Frances M. Maguire Art Museum opened its doors this past May at the Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph’s University. To expand our diverse range of exhibitions and programming, we are actively seeking external support for the Frances M. Maguire Art Museum Special Projects Fund. This fund will contribute to insightful lectures, temporary exhibitions highlighting artists from the Philadelphia area and beyond, as well as engaging programming. By making your gift on Day of Giving, you can provide the additional funding needed for the Maguire Art Museum to continue to host exhibitions featuring renowned works of art in Philadelphia.

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School of Nursing and Allied Health

Make a gift in support of the recently launched School of Nursing and Allied Health at Saint Joseph's University. Now in full operation after the successful merger with the PA College of Health Sciences, the School of Nursing and Allied Health offers a wide variety of bachelor's, master's, associate and certificate programs in the fields of nursing and allied health. Your gift will empower our students to benefit from a nursing school that has been a regional leader for over a century, with experienced faculty leading well-established coursework, simulation-based learning and hands-on clinical experiences in Philadelphia, one of the nation’s healthcare hubs. 

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Summer Scholars

The Summer Scholars program at Saint Joseph's University has been a transformational initiative for our undergraduate students for over two decades. In addition to the academic benefits, educational and social events throughout the summer create a holistic experience. The emphasis on fostering close professional interaction between students and faculty mentors aligns with the University's commitment to cura personalis, while the opportunity to publicly share and present research results contributes to the students' academic and personal growth within and beyond the Saint Joseph's University community. On this Day of Giving, we ask for your to make a gift in support of the Summer Scholars program to ensure that it continues to enrich the lives of our students.

Challenges & Initiatives

If there are 100 donors for the Summer Scholars program, then $50,000 will be unlocked through the generosity of Johnson & Johnson!