VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Trailblazers came together in a remarkable way to celebrate the first Blazers Give Day on Thursday. The Trailblazer spirit shined brightly during the 24 hours devoted to supporting the University’s greatest needs: student scholarships and academic program development.
The Vincennes University Foundation’s day of giving was filled with Blazers helping Blazers.
“Yesterday, we celebrated all things VU and introduced a new endeavor in philanthropy, Blazers Give Day. Your Trailblazer spirit did not disappoint as we came together as a community to support and celebrate this great institution of ours, Vincennes University. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students, our programs, and our institution as a whole. We celebrated one day, but your generosity will be felt every day,” VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson said.
“The Blazers Give Fund was introduced as a new effort for unrestricted funds to support the greatest needs for our students and programs. Your generosity, outreach, and overall engagement were inspiring, and we are grateful to you for being the spark that advances our mission.”
Johnson announced Blazers Give Day will become an annual tradition for VU and invites everyone to mark their calendars for next year’s celebration slated for Thursday, April 7, 2022.
The inaugural Blazers Give Day was imbued with the feeling of connection and philanthropy. The VU community of alumni, employees, students, parents, and friends engaged in many different ways with each other through online giving, social media, and in-person activities as they supported and celebrated the “One Day That Makes A Difference Every Day”.
“On behalf of Vincennes University and the Vincennes University Foundation, thank you to all who helped us make Blazers Give Day a success,” Executive Director of the Vincennes University Foundation and Senior Director of Institutional Advancement Kristi Deetz. “Your generosity and support truly make a difference in lives and ensures a strong future for VU with the impact of giving being felt for generations.”
Alumni, students, faculty, and others filled social media with messages of thanks, videos showcasing their academic programs, and shared their VU stories.
An air of festivity and celebration filled the Blazers Give Day tent on the Vincennes Campus. Alumni, employees, students, and others dropped off monetary donations, posed for photographs, and showed off their Trailblazer spirit. Scholarship recipients wrote thank-you notes to donors and shared stories about how scholarships have directly impacted their lives.
Students demonstrated their philanthropy in many ways. Students living in residential halls participated in a Penny War with the change being donated to the Blazers Give Fund. Students also donated items to a food drive. An entire shopping cart was filled with donations for Sandy’s Pantry, which provides food to VU students.
The VU Ag Club was among the day’s early donors. According to Advisor and Agribusiness Program Chair Susan Brocksmith, students in the Ag Club believe in giving back. The club raises money through various fundraisers, including selling rolls, throughout the year.
“In this year of COVID-19, the club was not able to do as many activities as we usually do,” Brocksmith said. “Therefore the decision was made to donate the money that was raised to the VU Foundation to help the future endeavors of our students.”
VU Biology major and scholarship recipient Nicole Thielmann of Milan, Ind. expressed her appreciation for all the donors that support students like her and their generosity.
“When I was starting to come to college, I was worried about money and I was working, working, and working,” she said. “Now I don’t have to worry. You’ve helped me immensely. If it wasn’t for the people who donated for scholarships, I would still be working all the time.”
With more than 600 scholarships and funds supporting students, academic programs, and activities, online giving is an easy and exciting way to support high-quality education, life-changing opportunities, and transformational experiences.
Though Blazers Give Day has ended, it’s still not too late to contribute to the fund at www.vinu.edu/give.
