Big Orange Give: UT surpasses $2 million fundraising goal in 24 hours, sets new record

Monica Kast | Knoxville

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, surpassed its goal and raised more than $2.1 million on Wednesday, the largest amount of money raised by the university in a 24-hour period.

Donations opened up at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday and continued through midnight as part of the sixth Big Orange Give, a 24-hour fundraising push by the Office of Alumni Affairs. This year was the first attempt to reach a $2 million goal.

"I am so proud of how the campus community and our alumni and friends came together as part of Big Orange Give," Interim Chancellor Wayne Davis said in a news release. "The support of the Volunteer family of our campus and its programs has been incredible. I am so grateful to each donor for making a difference and lighting the way."

From a week-long to 24-hour event

For the first four years of Big Orange Give, it was a week-long event. Last year, it was changed to a 24-hour event, with a $1 million goal. In 2017, the event raised $1.45 million.

Funds raised on Wednesday will go toward student scholarships, colleges, organizations and programming at UT Knoxville. Donors were able to designate a specific area of campus they wanted their donation to go toward.

Lauren Herbstritt, director of new media fundraising at UT, said there were "amazing results yesterday for so many of our colleges and units."

There were over 3,700 gifts given yesterday, with over 260 students who donated, she said. There was also an increase in the number of first-time donors.

"Two point one million dollars in a day is just incredible," Herbstritt said.

Tickle Engineering raised the most

Tickle College of Engineering raised the most money, raking in just over $185,000. Their goal was originally to raise $100,000. Haslam College of Business also surpassed their goal of $100,000 and raised over $154,000.

Herbstritt said the Pride of the Southland Band also surpassed their goal and raised just under $95,000. Herbstritt said money from Big Orange Give goes toward funding about one-third of the scholarships available for the approximately 350 students in the band.

"Now, because of Big Orange Give and the generosity of the Pride of Southland band alumni, they are able to offer every member of the band a scholarship," Herbstritt said.

The College of Information and Communication did not meet its goal of $25,000, and brought in just over $15,000. Herbstritt said the downfall of doing a day focused on giving is "there's an end to it" when trying to reach certain goals.

Herbstritt said donations from Big Orange Give will also go toward campus beautification, which is "something to offer back to the community."

"I think it's an amazing day because not only are we able to make a big impact on the university itself and on students, faculty and staff, but we're also able to gift this back to the Knoxville community in the different ways that we have open and public spaces," Herbstritt said.

Asking more for the 225th anniversary

Herbstritt said next year is UT's 225th anniversary, so she'd like to increase the goal for the seventh Big Orange Give.

"I think we've got to shoot for $2.25 million," Herbstritt said.