BOURBONNAIS, IL – Olivet Nazarene University’s annual Day of Giving on Wednesday was a resounding success, with the university raising $181,881 from over 1,000 donors in just 24 hours. The event brought together alumni and friends in support of nearly 60 different campus projects, with the goal of reaching $200,000 in donations.
The Day of Giving featured several donation matches, including the Purple & Gold Days Match, where Melissa ’97 and Chris Guerdan generously matched the next $2,500 given to fund the Purple & Gold Days program, dollar-for-dollar.
The Hockey Match saw a similar 1:1 match for donations up to $2,500 for the Olivet Hockey program, and the Football Match saw Bart ’90 and Lisa ’90 Garvin matching the next $20,000 given to the football program, reaching the goal quickly.
The Swim & Dive Match also had an anonymous donor couple matching donations up to $1,200, and the Alumni Board matching the next $10,000 given to fund the Purple & Gold Days program.
Other projects that received donations during the Day of Giving included the ONU Benevolence Fund, which allows Olivet to respond to various student needs throughout the year, and the Reedy Missionary House, a key part of Olivet’s campus that is undergoing renovations. Updates to various university dorms, the Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs, Benner Library, and Catalyst ONU also received generous donations from alumni and friends.
The Olivet Fund, Olivet Nazarene University’s annual giving program, aims to make an exceptional educational experience accessible to every student. Donations to The Olivet Fund go towards scholarships based on merit and financial need, expanded resources for faculty to develop rigorous curriculum, and providing exceptional educational and athletic opportunities for student athletes.
Bre Bambrick, Class of 2014, expressed her gratitude for the support of alumni and friends, saying, “Without the interest and support of alumni and friends, I know my Olivet experience would not have been possible. On behalf of all the students at Olivet, thank you for your investment in our leadership, educational, personal, and professional development!”
With the success of Olivet’s 2023 Day of Giving, the university is well on its way to achieving its fundraising goals and continuing to provide a high-quality education with a Christian purpose to its students.
