Thank You, Wildcats!

A big thank-you to the nearly 2,000 Wildcat alumni and friends who showed their love for the University of Arizona on Giving Day. Together, we raised $5.2 million and supported areas all over campus, including the Pride of Arizona marching band, the Wildcat Mentor Society, scholarships and more.

Giving Day is a campus wide effort coordinated by the University of Arizona Foundation to inspire alumni and donors to support university causes they care about. Donors give online for a 24-hour period beginning at midnight.

Participants see Giving Day as an opportunity to express their gratitude while also generating connectivity, community and goodwill. Some received financial support as students and want to provide today’s students the same kind of support. Many take pride in campus programs and see their gifts as investments in excellence.

For alumni couple Chad ’97 and Dena ’97 Becker, giving is connected to many things they hold dear — great friends, memorable experiences and their education, says Chad Becker, who also is a member of the University of Arizona Foundation Board of Trustees.

He and Dena met at the university before becoming volunteers through the alumni chapter network.

SMALL GIFTS MATTER

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“The success of Giving Day is measured by the participation rate, and the primary goal is to engage the maximum number of alumni in a single day,” Chad Becker says. “Giving Day makes it easy to find opportunities to support some of the smaller programs and organizations across campus. For many of these groups, even the smallest of donations can have a significant impact on success and engagement.”

Of the gifts made online during this year’s Giving Day, 48% were for $100 or less.

Small gifts can lead to big impact, says alumnus Matt Brown ’98, a native Tucsonan and assistant director of Arizona Athletics event management.

“Giving at even a micro level can impact the university as a whole,” he says. “Many people think, ‘How could I possibly help with such a small donation?’ Well, it does help and makes a collective difference for the university community.”

The campus has left an indelible mark on his life, from attending sporting events as a kid to graduating and then starting his first job at the university 23 years ago.

“From the people I have met to the experiences I have had, giving back is just a small, tangible way to say thanks to something that has given so much to me over the years,” Brown says.

Alumnus Brad Butler ’90 ’94 sees Giving Day as an opportunity to explore the many ways he can support his alma mater.

Butler, who is a clinical associate professor of emergency medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix, completed his bachelor’s and medical degrees at the university.

“I would not be the person I am today if I did not attend the University of Arizona,” he says. “Not only am I a successful emergency physician, but I also met my wife, Stephanie, on campus.”

Stephanie Butler ’90 ’94 also holds two degrees from the university. Brad Butler notes that their two children are fourth-generation Wildcats.

Alumna Carmala Garzione ’96 ’00, who received her master’s and doctoral degrees from the university and now serves as dean of the College of Science, says she gives back in part because of the financial support she received as a geosciences graduate student.

“I am happy giving back to an institution that has provided me with incredible opportunities,” Garzione says. “This year, I gave to a scholarship fund in the College of Science that helps close the financial gap for students to be able to continue in their college education.”