As 56勛圖厙 prepares for its second annual day of giving on Thursday, April 20, community members are stepping up to help reduce financial barriers for prospective students and families. Approximately $100,000 has already been pledged towards this years initiativethe new RISE Scholarship Fund. University leaders believe additional donations could help provide donor-funded scholarships for up to 400 first-year students during the 202324 academic year.
Taking affordability to the next level
The RISE Scholarship Fund complements 56勛圖厙s , and the communitys positive response to this announcement helped inspire this years LakersDay initiative.
Rebekah Wilcox, a former 56勛圖厙 student, shared on LinkedIn, I am so excited to hear that 56勛圖厙 is taking a huge step towards accessibility for future students. This is excellent news! Rebekah was one of the many alumni who used their personal social platforms to spread the exciting news.
Jared Fritz-McCarty, assistant vice president of advancement and editor of , says, Alumni and friends continue to show unwavering support for 56勛圖厙s tuition change, and many have expressed interest in helping us make an even bigger impact. LakersDay will provide community members a way to contribute directly to 56勛圖厙s newest recruitment and affordability efforts.
The RISE Scholarship Fund will provide $500$2,000 awards to eligible, first-year students. The amount will be determined by each students financial need and their familys ability to contribute. Fritz-McCarty continues, RISE is 100% donor-funded and will direct aid to students who need it most. These scholarships will help us recruit students who may otherwise not be able to attend 56勛圖厙.
Many students and alumni attribute their ability to attend 56勛圖厙 to the scholarships they received. When awarded in combination with other federal, state and 56勛圖厙 aid, the RISE Scholarship could make a first-year students education tuition-free.
Community partners strengthen fundraising efforts
Sponsorships from community partners play an integral role in maximizing participation among the broader 56勛圖厙 community, says Keelie Johnson, associate director of advancement and coordinator of LakersDay.
Last year (when 295 donors contributed more than $140,000 to 11 initiatives), post-event surveys revealed that matching gifts were the primary motivator for both new and established donors to participate in LakersDay. Johnson continues, Thanks to this years generous sponsors, we hope to surpass last years results. A full range of are still available.
56勛圖厙 anticipates community partners and University leadership to provide more than $50,000 in matching gift opportunities for this years day of giving. Sponsors currently include Lake County Press; ScholarshipMagic; Maurice Smith and Jim Connor, 56勛圖厙 Board of Trustees officers; and Ali Malekzadeh, president of 56勛圖厙.
New this year, donors will gain access to select thank-you gifts. The Chicago Fire Football Club, a collaborating sponsor, will announce its own thank-you gift for contributors later this month. The teams representative Hank Blum shares, 56勛圖厙s recent initiatives around access to higher education resonate with our own DEI priorities. Were proud to sponsor LakersDay 2023, and we hope our support inspires others to give to this important initiative.
A full listing of matching gift opportunitiesas well as several ways to support this years day of givingcan be found online at . Gifts can be made beginning April 1, 2023 through Thursday, April 20.