Successful New Mexico State University alums, a dedicated corporate partner and the NMSU system’s top leadership are among many generous donors who have stepped up to offer matching funds and challenges aimed at inspiring others to make an impact during the university system’s third-annual Giving Tuesday event on Nov. 28.
Kevin Johnson, CEO of Starbucks and a 1981 graduate of NMSU’s College of Business has, with his wife, June, also an NMSU grad, pledged a substantial matching gift to help create 16 new scholarship endowments that will be finalized on Giving Tuesday, along with six more for next year’s event.
Johnson, who returned to the NMSU campus in May when he was awarded an honorary doctorate by his alma mater, said he knows the impact that scholarships can have on students and their families.
“Education creates opportunity and enables a person to pursue their dreams and aspirations,” Johnson said. “June and I are pleased to contribute to the greater NMSU community and create opportunity for others.”
NMSU Chancellor Garrey Carruthers, who is also an Aggie alum, has issued a matching opportunity of his own.
“Kathy and I have pledged up to $10,000 to match alumni who are making their first charitable contribution ever to any department, program or scholarship in the NMSU system on Giving Tuesday,” Carruthers said.
NMSU Provost Dan Howard and his wife, Jenifer Lichtenfels, have pledged to match Giving Tuesday gifts to Aggie Cupboard, a food pantry that serves students and staff members at three NMSU system campuses.
El Paso Electric and has offered to match up to $15,000 in contributions on Giving Tuesday to the President’s Associates Scholarship, which is awarded to select freshmen enrolling from high schools in New Mexico who have demonstrated their academic excellence and community service. EPE has also pledged up to an additional combined $10,000 to match gifts to various athletics teams and the Aggie Athletics Club booster program. For details on these and other athletics matching opportunities, visit advancing.nmsu.edu/givingtuesday.
Many other matching opportunities are available, including $125,000 being offered as a first-come, first-served chance to double any online or in-person gift on Giving Tuesday of up to $2,500 per household.
Learn more about all matching opportunities and other Giving Tuesday details at advancing.nmsu.edu/givingtuesday.
NMSU’s Las Cruces campus will again be host to the Giving Tuesday in-person giving headquarters and celebration from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Nov. 28 at Corbett Center’s Aggie Lounge. Last year’s event brought in more than $2 million in gifts to scholarship funds at all NMSU campuses around the state. Online gifts may also be made on Nov. 28 by visiting support.nmsu.edu.
To spread support for #GivingTuesday, join the social media conversations on Twitter @NMSUAlumFriends, Facebook/NMSUAlumFriends, Instagram @nmsualumfriends and NMSU Alumni and Friends on YouTube. Watch for and share the following hashtags to spread the word about the day of giving: #GivingTuesday, #SupportNMSU and #NMSUGivingTuesday.
Information from NMSU