Winning the Day

Rooted in tradition and transformative in giving was the theme of the seventh annual CofC Giving Day, which launched at midnight on March 19, sparking more than 24 hours of generosity, connection and community-wide giving.

CofC Giving Day brings together the Cougar community in a shared celebration of the College. This year, more than 2,100 donors gave over $1.1 million, impacting 220 areas of campus.

The celebration carried into the next day as the College of Charleston women’s basketball team traveled to Durham, N.C., to face No. 3-seeded Duke in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. In honor of their historic debut, additional giving hours were added to keep the momentum going as the Cougar community rallied behind the team.

“CofC Giving Day is a powerful reminder of how our community comes together to support what matters most at the College,” says Dan Frezza, chief advancement officer of the College and chief executive officer of the College of Charleston Foundation. “The success of this year’s historic Giving Day is a testament to the incredible generosity of our alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends. We are deeply grateful to everyone who gave and helped ensure the College can continue providing an exceptional education and expanding opportunities for our students.”

CofC Giving Day activities included a student organization banner competition, a student showcase of the impact of philanthropy on the student experience, a faculty and staff lunch courtesy of the Staff Advisory Committee to the President and Denny’s FUNd, a financial wellness event by the Career Center and a block party in the Cistern Yard that included a Cash Cube Challenge by Johnnie Baxley ’92 and his wife, Michelle.

In addition to events around campus, Alumni Association clubs spearheaded CofC Giving Day celebrations in multiple cities along the East Coast so people outside Charleston had the chance to engage and celebrate the day.

Eleven donor challenges offered incentives to give:

• The Buono School of Education Challenge, sponsored by Mark ’81 and Judy ’22 (M.Ed.) Buono, unlocked $12,500 for the School of Education after 50 donors gave to the school.
• The Lovell J. Stewart Walker Match contributed an additional $5,000 in matching funds to support CofC’s varsity sailing team.
• The Dwyer Family E-LLC Challenge unlocked $10,000 after 25 donors made a gift to the Honors College Entrepreneurship Living-Learning Community.
• The Mimi O’Brien School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Challenge unlocked $2,000 after 25 donors supported the school’s Dean’s Excellence Fund.
• The Zucker Challenge, sponsored by Anita Zucker and her family, unlocked $100,000 after 1,770 donors donated.
• The Kosko International Piano Series Challenge unlocked $1,000 after 10 donors supported the International Piano Series.
• The Lynn L. Moody Endowment for Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Challenge, sponsored by Janice Bethea, unlocked $5,000 after 30 donors made a gift to the fund.
• The Coleman Edmunds School of Business Dean’s Excellence Fund Match provided $1,500 in matching funds.
• The Dan Chandler School of Business Accounting and Business Law Match provided $1,500 in matching funds.
• The School of Business Board of Governors CofC Giving Day Challenge provided an additional $10,000 when $25,000 was donated to the Dean’s Excellence Fund at the school.
• The McLain School and Unit Competition, sponsored by Justin McLain ’98, awarded $50,000 to various excellence funds to recognize and incentivize participation across campus.