Media release from Berry College:
The Berry College community rallied around the theme “We All Row!” during the college’s first-ever Day of Giving April 8.
By the end, 1,860 donors contributed $489,170 to support scholarships and financial aid, academics, athletics and the student experience.
“On campus, ‘We All Row’ is a rallying cry reminding us that we’re all working together to move Berry forward,” said Laura Croft, Berry vice president of advancement. “We felt this was a perfect message for our Day of Giving because we get farther when we row together. We are tremendously grateful for the response of our Berry family far and wide.”
Berry alums and friends posted across social media about the day, spreading the word.
In a video shared on social media, President Sandeep Mazumder described the Day of Giving as an opportunity to come “together in a powerful way that truly reflects who we are as a community. As Berry looks ahead to its next chapter, moments like this remind me why I’m so honored to serve this institution. When this community comes together, there is no limit to what our students and Berry College can achieve.”
The Day of Giving featured 46 funds spanning academics, athletics, scholarships and aid, and student experience initiatives. To encourage participation, donors offered 39 challenges or matching opportunities designed to unlock additional gifts when participation or dollar milestones were met. Supporters could also direct their gifts to the area of Berry that mattered most to them.
On campus, more than 18 pop-up events helped build momentum throughout the day — from a popcorn bar to kick off giving, to school-sponsored gatherings with deans. A midday group photo drew 150-plus faculty, staff and students together on the Cage Center steps.
More than 250 students made gifts alongside alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends from 37 states and the District of Columbia.
Fueled by two trustee challenge gifts, the newly established President’s Innovation Fund led giving for the day, raising more than $73,000 in honor of Mazumder’s inauguration. The fund will support collaborative scholarship, undergraduate research and real-world learning alongside faculty mentors, advancing the culture of inquiry and discovery that has long defined the Berry experience.
Donations to Berry’s Day of Giving campaign will be accepted through April 25 at dayofgiving.alwaysberry.com.
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