GivingTuesday is a global day for giving when people and organizations all over the world come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to contribute to causes that matter to them. Locally, that day will have a direct impact on student success at New Mexico State University.
On Dec. 1, 2015, GivingTuesday will unify alumni, students, faculty, staff, businesses and community members as NMSU celebrates generosity by providing people everywhere with an opportunity to make a difference.
Gifts can go to any cause, college, campus or department. To further the impact of gifts on GivingTuesday, NMSU will use the day as an opportunity to build scholarships across campus by implementing an exciting matching gift incentive. On GivingTuesday, every dollar donated to a scholarship anywhere in the NMSU system will be matched dollar for dollar.
“Scholarships provide an opportunity for me to attend a top-tier university. Without the scholarships I receive, I would be working full-time to pay for tuition,” said Jacqueline Estrada, a psychology major at NMSU. “Following graduation, I would love to work with veterans and create a therapeutic riding program. I can’t think of a better career than helping others.”
The match will come from funds generated by the NMSU license plate program, which offers collegiate plates through the Department of Motor Vehicles and NMSU Alumni Association, with a portion of the license plate funds raised going into scholarships. In addition, a $250,000 gift from an extraordinary Aggie who had the vision to support NMSU in his estate will be used for matching.
Along with the matching gift incentives, NMSU leadership is stepping up to encourage an even greater impact. Currently, 13 NMSU leaders have issued challenges to faculty, staff and students – including Chancellor Garrey Carruthers, who will match $5 for every new payroll deduction gift. Miriam S. Chaiken, dean of the William Conroy Honors College, is inviting students to participate by contributing $1 for every $5 or more donated by a student to the Honors International Scholarship Fund. For a complete list of challenges, visit advancing.nmsu.edu/giving-tuesday-challenges.
The public is invited to join the fun at NMSU on Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in NMSU’s Corbett Center’s Aggie Lounge to celebrate with daylong events. Free parking for Giving Tuesday donors during this event will be available in lot 17N in front of the Corbett Center Student Union.
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, #NMSUGiving, #NMSUImpactHappens, #NMSUPhilanthropy and #NMSUStudentSuccess.
Visit advancing.nmsu.edu/givingtuesday for more information or to make your gift on Dec. 1.
Information from NMSU