HWS News
22 April 2025 Scholarship Day of Donors is Back, April 30-May 1
HWS seeks to create another 50 Annual Fund Scholarships by engaging the entire HWS community.
An exciting, 24-hour online giving campaign to raise funds for HWS scholarships is making its third appearance on April 30-May 1, Noon to Noon. The entire HWS community is invited to participate again this year by giving online and urging colleagues and friends to join.
“Scholarship Day of Donors, which was originally modeled after Athletics Day of Donors, is gaining its own momentum and creating a joyous, new tradition to make dreams come true for deserving students who need financial aid,” says Dulcie Meyer P’20, executive director of Annual and Athletic Giving. “We hope to engage everyone – from students to parents, faculty, staff and alumni – in the joy of creating opportunity through new scholarships. We are so grateful to donors who impact the lives of our students through their personal generosity, as well as pitch in to persuade their friends and family to give as well.”
This year’s Scholarship Day of Donors includes a number of exciting challenges and incentives:
The Board of Trustees is issuing a $100,000 donor challenge as the following milestones are reached:
- $25,000 will be unlocked when 100 Reunion-year alumni participate (Classes ending in 0s and 5s);
- $25,000 will be unlocked when 100 recent graduates (Classes of 2016-2019 and Classes of 2021-2024) participate;
- $25,000 will be unlocked when 100 members of the campus community (faculty, staff and students) join in; and
- $25,000 will be unlocked when 100 donors not affiliated with the above cohorts make a gift.
Individuals who go beyond making a gift to become an SDOD “Advocate” can earn special incentives by texting and emailing the SDOD giving link to their network. These incentives include stickers, luggage tags, an HWS tote bag and an oversized golf umbrella. Advocates in this year’s Reunion Classes can earn special perks for Reunion Weekend, including a Reunion T-shirt, complimentary dinner ticket, free registration for Reunion, and an exclusive breakfast with President Gearan on Saturday of Reunion weekend.
“Right from the beginning, an important goal of Scholarship Day of Donors has been philanthropy education for our campus community,” Meyer says. “During SDOD, we make our donors’ philanthropy visible by placing signs on the lawn at the Scandling Center that celebrate scholarships made possible by the generosity of donors to HWS.”
As in previous years, the Office of Advancement will be tabling in the Scandling Campus Center to support a Gratitude Station where students can write a note of thanks and appreciation to a favorite professor. Students who write a note can visit a food truck (ice cream and donuts!). The gratitude notes are delivered to faculty in subsequent days.
Finally, HWS parents can make a difference for current students. If 100 parents give on Scholarship Day of Donors, that milestone will unlock an experience sponsored by the Parents Executive Committee for students to recharge their batteries during Reading Days before final exams. Gifts from 100 parents will make Paws for a Break possible on Wednesday, May 7. The event will feature friendly community dogs, a petting zoo with kangaroos, goats, a llama and an armadillo, plus treats from an ice cream truck.
Donors can create their own named Annual Fund Scholarship by committing $5,000 annually for five years. All gifts to Scholarship Day of Donors will count toward HWS’ capital campaign, Further Together: The Campaign for Our Third Century.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SCHOLARSHIP DAY OF DONORS 2025 AND MAKE A GIFT.
Top: During the 2024 Scholarship Day of Donors, students write personal thank you notes to faculty and staff on campus.
