Arkansas State University celebrated its second annual Day of Giving on Tuesday. It is part of a nationwide event where colleges ask for private donations to help improve aspects of their campuses. According to the A-State website, the event is a “24 hour university-wide effort to build a better, stronger Arkansas State University through private giving.”

Donations could be made to the university itself, or they could be directly given to a particular college or organization. Accepted donation methods included CashApp, checks, credit/debit cards or even physical cash.

On Tuesday, students were encouraged to support the event by wearing scarlet and black or by wearing A-State clothing. Tara Thomason, Director of Annual Giving, said she wanted both donors and nondonors to promote the event by posting about it on social media telling their friends and family about it. 

The Day of Giving was first hosted in 2021, after A-State was asked to begin hosting a campus-wide donation event. They raised $1,063,000 in donations from 750 donors. Thomason said the official donation goal is never officially promoted, but the 2022 goal is smaller than last year’s total. The amount raised for this year will be announced on Friday.

The event placed a higher emphasis on private donations due to budget restraints and lack of funding for some areas. 

“We are trying to look to the private sector and ask those people that have received their degree from Arkansas State,” Thomason said. “We ask those individuals to help and support and to give back to the university, so that we can continue to grow and expand what’s already so wonderful and already established here.”

The Day of Giving has donors from all across the country and even globe donate. While most of the donations come from Arkansas residents, some have come from states like Washington and Alaska. This year, the event received one from Japan.

While most donations come from alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff and friends of A-State were also encouraged to donate. 

“We just hope that students, faculty and staff members, fans and alumni will consider just making one very small gift,” Thomason said. “Rarely do you hear about the individual that is maybe on a budget and they contribute $50 out of their pocket. I want people to know that every single dollar truly does make a difference.”

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