Illinois State University’s sixth annual Thank-a-Donor Days return October 25-27 at the Bone Student Center’s Circus Room. The three-day celebration provides scholarship recipients the opportunity to write a letter to their scholarship donor, learn about philanthropy, and enjoy free food and prizes.
Private support from donors promotes Redbirds’ academic success and boosts recruitment and retention. During the previous fiscal year (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023), donors established 76 new scholarships, increasing Illinois State’s endowed funds under management to 1,746. Last fiscal year, a total of 3,350 scholarships were awarded to students.
The impact of scholarship support is evident in the hundreds of student letters written during Thank-a-Donor Days.
Senior nursing student Rachel Patterson received the Winifred G. Lawrence Memorial Endowed Scholarship. To her scholarship donor, she wrote: “Nursing is such a beautiful thing, and I am so thankful for donors like you who help me continue my education.”
“I am extremely grateful for my time in nursing school, and truly do not think I could have picked a better career,” said Patterson. “I hope one day I will be able to pay it forward and help other students achieve their goals.”
Thank-a-Donor Days connects students like Patterson to donors who give to see students succeed. With students’ busy schedules in mind, the three day in-person event offers multiple opportunities to attend. Students who are unable to write a letter during the event can submit an impact statement online.
“Thank-a-Donor Days is the bridge between scholarship recipients and University donors,” said Director of Donor Engagement Laura Freyman. “It’s important for students to understand there are people behind the scholarships they’ve received, and it’s equally impactful for donors to learn about how their support is making a difference in students’ lives.”
To learn more about Thank-a-Donor Days or to RSVP to the in-person event, visit University Advancement Redbird Life.
