Day of Giving Archives | �鶹ԭ�� News

�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving 2026 Launches Knights to New Heights

Camille Dolan ’98 — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:10:24 +0000

In a powerful show of generosity and shared purpose, thousands of donors, alumni and supporters rallied together during �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving on April 9 to support not only the university, but the futures of its students and the communities they will go on to serve.

The Power of a 24-Hour Mission

In a single day, 5,187 donors from across the country and around the globe gifted more than $14.9 million in support of �鶹ԭ��’s bold vision for the future, setting a new record in dollars raised during . With contributions spanning across all 12 colleges and 200 programs and initiatives, participants included both longtime supporters and first-time donors, reflecting a growing community united by a shared belief in the power of education, discovery and opportunity.

From the moment the campaign launched at midnight, momentum built quickly — across campuses, communities and time zones. Hour by hour, participation grew as alumni, students, faculty, staff, partners and friends added their support, each gift contributing to something larger than any single moment.

Momentum Across Knight Nation

By mid‑morning, the energy of �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving was unmistakable. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Student Union buzzed with celebration as everyone gathered for photobooths, coffee and conversations that turned into meaningful contributions.

Knightro and the spirit team brought the energy to the Student Union to help celebrate �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving. (Photo by Kadeem Stewart)

The celebration extended beyond main campus, with similar moments unfolding at �鶹ԭ�� Downtown and the Health Sciences Campus, reinforcing �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving as a university‑wide movement.

“Every gift helps expand opportunity for our students, fuels discovery and sparks innovations that move our communities forward.” — President Alexander N. Cartwright

“�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving is a powerful reminder of what Knight Nation can accomplish together,” says �鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Every gift helps expand opportunity for our students, fuels discovery and sparks innovations that move our communities forward.”

�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving is a key moment within Go for Launch: The Campaign for �鶹ԭ��’s Next Mission and the university’s most ambitious revenue-generating effort to date.

Powered by Knight Nation

Through the Go For Launch campaign, �鶹ԭ�� builds upon four priorities that will amplify our impact and create our future. They represent the pioneering spirit of �鶹ԭ�� and speak to the unique needs of our dynamic community: , , and. Together, these priorities accelerate �鶹ԭ��’s continued rise as Florida’s Technological University and create opportunities that extend far beyond campus.

This campaign shares the same collaborative spirit that’s fueled record-breaking results for �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving year after year.

“We recognize the unique combination of philanthropy, partnership and collective drive needed to bring bold visions to life, and we’re proud to lean into that,” says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president for advancement and partnerships at �鶹ԭ�� and CEO of the �鶹ԭ�� Foundation, Inc. “At �鶹ԭ��, we’re building a future that others have only begun to imagine, and that pursuit is sustained not by any one individual or group, but by the power of many.”

For students like Ervin Xhemali the impact of these efforts is both immediate and life‑changing. A first‑generation student funding his education independently, Xhemali initially thought the scholarship credit in his account was a mistake, until he realized it came from the Katherine Crock Memorial Fund, established by Raymond Smithberger ’02MBA in honor of his mother.

The scholarship helps remove financial barriers so students can focus on learning and future goals. For Xhemali, an economics major balancing coursework with multiple jobs, the support was more than financial, it was a catalyst for what would come next.

President Alexander N. Cartwright engaged with the crowd gathered at the �鶹ԭ�� Student Union. (Photo by Kadeem Stewart)

Across campus and online, �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving spotlighted stories of impact — students discovering new opportunities, faculty advancing breakthroughs and alumni carrying the Knight spirit into industries and communities worldwide.

Transformational investments fueled that momentum, including a $500,000 grant from Bank of America to support the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion on �鶹ԭ��’s Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona. The gift closed a more than $30 million private fundraising effort for the facility, bringing �鶹ԭ��’s vision for its College of Nursing to life alongside $43 million in state support.

Fuel for the Mission

Over the past four years, 24,411 individuals have invested more than $49.5 million through �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving, strengthening the foundation for continued impact and growth.

Together, these moments reflect what has always defined �鶹ԭ��: a belief that bold ideas, supported by a committed community, create lasting change. In just 24 hours, Knights demonstrated how collective generosity can expand opportunity, accelerate innovation and move ideas forward.

Together, Knight Nation isn’t just imagining the future; through moments like �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving, we’re creating it.

Honoring Family Legacies by Opening Doors for First-Generation Students

Joseph Harkins — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:00:42 +0000

A few months into his freshman year, economics major Ervin Xhemali was stunned to see a few thousand dollars in his student account. As the first in his family to navigate a four-year university, Xhemali assumed there had been an error; he didn’t want to spend money that wasn’t his.

“Once I realized it wasn’t a mistake, I was thrilled,” says Xhemali, one of the inaugural recipients of the Katherine Crock Memorial Scholarship. “I’m financing this entire experience on my own, so every bit helps. That’s money I can now put toward my future.”

For Xhemali, an aspiring lawyer, college once felt like a distant world reserved for others. Between traveling back-and-forth across the Atlantic Ocean to live with his parents in Albania and relatives in Chicago and Jacksonville, Florida, he constantly balanced family expectations with his own ambitions. Ultimately, Xhemali faced a difficult choice: work to support his family or focus solely on his studies. He chose both, supplementing his scholarship by working as a produce clerk at Publix and a warehouse shipper.

On Day of Giving, Raymond Smithberger ’02, the chief operating officer at Help at Home, honored the legacy of his mother, who valued who valued education more than anything else, by creating the Katherine Crock Memorial Fund.

College of Business alum Raymond Smithberger ’02MBA understands that drive. Growing up on a 100-acre farm in Southeast Ohio, Smithberger learned the value of hard work and family obligation early on. The oldest of five, with a father who worked in a factory and a mother who was a receptionist, Smithberger was aware of the financial hurdles facing a first-generation student when he left home to pursue his undergraduate degree and later an MBA at �鶹ԭ��.

Now the chief operating officer at Help at Home, a national home care provider, Smithberger credits his late mother, Katherine Crock, for pushing him to blaze his own trail.

“She was the one who really encouraged me to do things differently,” Smithberger says.

Following his mother’s passing, Smithberger honored her legacy by creating the Katherine Crock Memorial Fund. The endowment ensures students like himself, and Xhemali, have the support they need to define their own futures — and pays tribute to someone who valued education more than anything else.

�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving is Thursday, April 9. Join us during Knight Nation’s single largest day of impact as we support our favorite colleges, programs, student services, research endeavors and more. .

“[My mother] wanted to pursue further education but never had the chance,” Smithberger says. “I feel honored to support other first-generation students in her memory.”

Strategically launched last year on to maximize impact, visibility, and matching opportunities, the Katherine Crock Memorial Fund helps to expand student access, reduce financial barriers,and accelerate academic success. By funding both established and new scholarship initiatives, donors directly enable �鶹ԭ�� students to focus on their studies and career-shaping experiences, such as internships and campus involvement, rather than financial stressors.

While the finer points of �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving are still new to Xhemali, he understands the significance ofSmithberger’s generosity.

“I’m still fresh, but I’m figuring out this stuff,” Xhemali says. “What I do know is that I want to use this scholarship to put me in a position where I can help someone like Mr. Smithberger has helped me.”

Bank of America Grant Helps �鶹ԭ�� Reach Goal to Fund Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion

�鶹ԭ�� — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:34 +0000

Bank of America has awarded �鶹ԭ�� a $500,000 grant to support the on �鶹ԭ��’s Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona. The funds will propel critically needed nursing talent and healthcare innovation at the state-of-the-art facility.

The pivotal investment closes an aggressive and purposeful capital campaign to raise more than $30 million in private funding, which together with $43 million from the State of Florida, has brought �鶹ԭ��’s bold vision of a new home for its College of Nursing to life.

“Purposeful partnerships are what move our people and ideas forward to shape the future,” says �鶹ԭ�� President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Our mission with this campaign was clear: to address Florida’s nursing shortage head-on by significantly increasing �鶹ԭ��’s capacity to prepare compassionate and highly skilled Knight nurses. Together, with the generous support of state leaders, donors and partners, we are moving healthcare forward by fueling talent and innovation.”

Opened in Fall 2025, the 90,000-square-foot Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion increases access to �鶹ԭ��’s accredited and nationally ranked nursing degree programs. One in four Florida nursing graduates already receive a degree from �鶹ԭ��, more than any other university in the state.

With the opening, �鶹ԭ�� will graduate an additional 150 newly licensed eligible nurses annually and directly impact Florida communities. Of the more than 17,000 Knight nurse alumni, 85% live and work in the Sunshine State and nearly 60% remain in Central Florida.

The facility comes at a critical time for the profession and state, which is facing a projected shortage of 37,400 registered nurses by 2035. To meet demand spurred from Florida’s rapidly growing and aging population, an estimated 2,300 RNs are needed to enter the workforce annually.

“We are incredibly grateful to Bank of America Central Florida for their support that will impact generations in Central Florida and beyond,” says College of Nursing Dean Sharon Tucker. “Through philanthropic support and partnerships, �鶹ԭ�� has turned a challenge into opportunity — one that improves lives with increased access to a high-quality education and increased collaboration to innovate patient care. Together we are ensuring a healthier future for all.”

In addition to expanding classroom space, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion dramatically expands space for simulation and immersive technologies to prepare future healthcare providers in the Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center. �鶹ԭ�� is a global leader in healthcare simulation, and the first in Florida with three global accolades in the innovative field.

With an optimal location in Lake Nona, adjacent to �鶹ԭ��’s College of Medicine and in a hub of industry activity, the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion is fueling greater collaborative research and learning opportunities. �鶹ԭ�� students gain hands-on clinical experiences at neighboring healthcare facilities and real-life practice in interdisciplinary care with the new �鶹ԭ�� Health Mobile Clinic.

“This building is positively impacting how my peers and I learn, as community support is at the forefront and motivates our studies,” says Raquel Vargas, a current accelerated second degree BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) student at �鶹ԭ��. “In addition, the advanced technology in the simulation center is improving my ability to analyze and anticipate real-life patient scenarios, preparing me for my future clinical practice.”

The capital campaign launched in November 2022 anchored by a generous $10 million gift from Dr. Phillips Charities. Other founding donors of the facility include the Helene Fuld Health Trust, �鶹ԭ�� Pegasus Partners AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Health and Addition Financial, Zaby and Suree Vyas, and many others.

“Through this grant, the Bank of America is bolstering the backbone of healthcare in one of our nation’s fastest-growing regions,” says Naveed Shujaat, president, Bank of America Central Florida. “Education and healthcare are powerful forces in communities – catalysts that transform lives. This support for the education of future �鶹ԭ�� nurses will have an immeasurable impact on the patients and families they serve, especially in Florida.”

One �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving, Thousands of Futures Transformed

Laura J. Cole — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:50:21 +0000

More than 4,830 donors. Over 10,470 gifts. About $14.8 million dollars. On the surface, those numbers tell a story of remarkable generosity — but they only hint at the true impact seen from �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving 2025.

That’s because every dollar ripples far beyond a single day. Every gift opens doors: for students to chase a dream, create unforgettable memories, boldly invent the future and be recognized for their hard work. And every donor does more than give — they ignite potential, spark inspiration and elevate Knights for generations.

With �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving 2026 right around the corner — Thursday, April 9 — we’re reflecting on the transformational effects and personal stories of triumph that emerged from last year’s show of support, knowing that shortly, our collective contributions will set another wave of Black & Gold breakthroughs, successes and discoveries into motion.

Prioritizing Unique Opportunities

Area of Support: College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean’s Excellence Fund
Amount Raised: $67,421
Impact: Learning experiences

Growing up in rural Ohio, Jordan Hires, an aerospace engineering major and Burnett Honors College Scholar, often gazed at the boundless night sky, inspired by the astronauts from her home state of Ohio. Moving 1,000 miles away for college was daunting, but manageable. With her sights set on becoming a chief engineer for deep space flights, �鶹ԭ�� offered two key benefits: a renowned aerospace engineering program and proximity to NASA.

“It’s the best decision I’ve made,” she says.

Since becoming a Knight, she’s done backstage tours at NASA, met with industry leaders from Mitsubishi, Siemens Energy and Lockheed Martin, and even talked to a former astronaut at an awards ceremony. This past summer, she worked alongside Professor Kareem Ahmed in the Propulsion and Energy Research Lab as a U.S. National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) fellow, testing a solution to remove heat from engines — research that could make hypersonic aircraft safer and cheaper. It was her second research experience as an undergrad.

“I don’t know if it’s every little girl’s dream to work on classified projects with military and civilian applications, but it definitely was this little girl’s dream,” she says. “Thanks to �鶹ԭ��, I’ve had experiences that most students don’t get until graduate school.”

Many of those opportunities are made possible by the College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean’s Excellence Fund, which supports hands-on learning, cutting-edge research equipment and innovative initiatives.

Supporting Lasting Memories

Area of Support: Marching Knights Scholarship Fund
Amount Raised: $14,067
Impact: Multiple scholarships for band members

For �鶹ԭ�� Marching Knights President Zoie Taverna, two moments define her �鶹ԭ�� experience: the rush of running onto the field for her first game and the bittersweet joy of singing the alma mater song alongside her best friend for their final game before graduation.

“For three whole years, we stood next to each other in the stands, screaming, feeding off each other’s energy,” Taverna says. “For her last game, we went all out. We couldn’t even talk by the end of it. We cried while singing the alma mater.”

Taverna is among the Marching Knights whose experiences at �鶹ԭ�� are bolstered by the Branen Band Endowed Scholarship, which helps cover essentials like textbooks, meals and rent that her Bright Futures scholarship does not. As a mechanical engineering major, band leader and corresponding secretary for the national chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, she packs her days with coursework, practice and student engagement.

During the summers, she works full-time at a summer camp for kids, and she spends her weekends and evenings at Panera Bread to save up enough to cover the expenses to allow her to stay focused while in school.

“Without scholarships, I wouldn’t have the time to do extracurriculars, such as Marching Knights, where I get to represent �鶹ԭ�� in Central Florida and around the world,” she says. “And I wouldn’t get to spend every Saturday in the Bounce House with all of my friends, immersed in the band life we love.”

Illuminating Pathways

Area of Support: College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL)
Amount Raised: $54,880
Impact: $4,880 Went Toward Supporting 19 scholarships for attendees

This summer, high school student Chloe Phung left the bright lights of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to spend a week immersed in the study of light on �鶹ԭ��’s campus. As part of the third Laser and Photonics Summer Camp hosted by CREOL, she joined more than 50 high school students from across Central Florida — and around the world.

“I had the chance to learn many things, to learn more about optics, lenses and lasers,” Phung says.

In addition to learning opportunities, the camp shines a light on the photonics industry, where more than 10,000 jobs open each year in the U.S., despite only 80 to 100 students in the nation graduating with bachelor’s degrees in photonics annually. A third of those graduates come from CREOL.

Paying it Forward

Area of Support: Dr. Michelle R. Dusseau Communication and Community Impact Endowed Scholarship Fund
Amount Raised: $1,780
Impact: $1,500 scholarship for one communication major, awarded annually

Beatrix Alerte transferred to �鶹ԭ�� in Spring 2024 with a plan: build community on campus, explore a career in media, stay active in service and say yes to every opportunity.

The first three goals came naturally. She enrolled in classes, mentored two freshmen as part of the �鶹ԭ�� chapter of Big Sister Little Sister mentoring program and served as a trip coordinator for the Alternative Spring Break Program. Alerte also gained work experience as a marketing ambassador for Project BEST, a Student Support Services project that supports first generation students, and as an intern with �鶹ԭ�� Athletics.

Her final goal was made easier this summer when Alerte was named the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Michelle R. Dusseau Communication and Community Impact Endowed Scholarship, created this past year by longtime the College of Science‘s Nicholson School of Communication and Media faculty member Michelle Dusseau.

“This scholarship has given me the freedom to say yes to career-building opportunities, many of which are unpaid, while worrying less about covering

personal living expenses,” Alerte says. “That support makes all the difference.”

This �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving, we’re launching Knights to new heights! Save the date to on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Check out the to maximize your impact. And get ready to join your Knight Nation family as we Bounce, Stomp, Splash and Cheer our way to more impact than ever before.

�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving Returns April 9: Help Build What’s Next

�鶹ԭ�� — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 20:07:41 +0000

On Thursday, April 9, Knight Nation joins together to Bounce, Stomp, Splash and Cheer for , a 24-hour celebration of generosity, community and the bold ideas shaping a future the world has only begun to imagine.

From Orlando to communities across the country and around the world, alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the university will unite with a shared goal: elevating student success, advancing discovery and innovation and driving academic excellence through the power of giving.

�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving is a powerful reminder of what the Knight community can accomplish together. Every gift helps expand opportunity for our students and fuels the discoveries that move communities forward.

At �鶹ԭ��, generosity isn’t just about supporting a university. It’s about investing in people and possibilities — the students pursuing their dreams, the researchers tackling global challenges and the partnerships transforming communities. Every gift, no matter the size, helps turn ambition into action.

When Knights give, opportunity expands.

Support from donors activates scholarships that help students stay on track toward graduation. It powers research that advances industries from space exploration to artificial intelligence. It strengthens programs that prepare tomorrow’s nurses, engineers, educators and entrepreneurs. And it opens doors for first-generation students who are daring to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

In short, every gift has a meaningful impact on the lives of current and future Knights everywhere.

Throughout the day, supporters can direct their gifts to the colleges, programs and initiatives that matter most to them. Whether someone chooses to support student scholarships, cutting-edge research, athletics, the arts or programs that expand access to education, each contribution helps power the momentum that defines �鶹ԭ��.

That collective momentum is what makes the day so powerful.

Across campus and online, �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving highlights the stories behind the impact — students finding their path, faculty leading breakthroughs and alumni who continue to carry the Knight spirit into industries and communities around the globe. These stories remind us that behind every gift is a person whose opportunity just grew a little larger.

The day also celebrates the determination and optimism that define �鶹ԭ��. Since its founding, the university has been built by people who dared to think differently and act boldly. Today, that same spirit drives the work happening in classrooms, labs and communities every day.

From expanding access to higher education to advancing research that improves lives, �鶹ԭ�� continues to prove that big ideas — paired with bold action — can create lasting change.

Here are a few things Knights should know about �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving 2026:

It’s a 24-hour giving celebration. On Thursday, April 9, Knights everywhere will unite for �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving — a day dedicated to supporting the students, research and programs shaping the future.

Every gift accelerates what’s next. Donor support powers scholarships, breakthrough research and programs that expand opportunity and strengthen communities.

You decide where to make an impact. Give to the college, program, scholarship or initiative that matters most to you.

Knights participate around the world. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends come together from across the country and around the globe.

�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving invites everyone who believes in that mission to take part.

A gift on April 9 is more than a donation. It’s a vote of confidence in the students working toward their goals, the faculty pushing the boundaries of knowledge and the partnerships strengthening communities across Florida and beyond.

Together, the Knight community is building something extraordinary — a future powered by curiosity, courage and generosity.

On April 9, every Knight has the opportunity to help shape what comes next.

Join the momentum. Help build what’s next. Be part of �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving.

9 Unique Funds to Support on �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving

Lindsey Amick — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:09:23 +0000

That special time of year is approaching here at �鶹ԭ�� when Knight Nation rallies together to bounce, stomp, splash and cheer for all things Black & Gold during �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving on April 10.

By supporting students, life-changing research and initiatives that mean the most to you, you’ll help launch Knights to new heights! Not sure where to make your gift this year? Here are some of the lesser-known, unique programs, departments and services available for support. Discover where you can be a force for the future.

One of the best-kept secrets on campus is the �鶹ԭ�� Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD). As one of seven regional centers established in Florida, CARD offers resources and nonresidential services to individuals with autism and related disabilities, as well as their families. From educational seminars to support services, including phone consultations and school observations and recommendations, CARD address issues that impact individuals across the lifespan. Use your gift to support CARD and its important work in our community.

Meet PIXEL — a new, one-of-a-kind building planned for the heart of �鶹ԭ��’s campus. Designed to defy the limits of traditional performance spaces, it will foster collaboration between the arts and other disciplines, including business, engineering, hospitality, sciences and more. The space will allow students to learn the latest in 3D projection and how to incorporate virtual and augmented reality into traditional art forms while also creating immersive experiences for audiences. PIXEL will be a space to create, collaborate and innovate.

Beyond putting smiles on the faces of everyone they meet, �鶹ԭ��’s Police K-9s play a critical role in keeping our campus and students safe. By making a gift to the �鶹ԭ�� Police Department’s K-9 fund, you’ll help support the adoption, training and care of our four-legged officers. Who can resist those puppy-dog eyes?

Even those who dedicate their lives to saving others need support sometimes. Help �鶹ԭ�� College of Medicine students and future health care leaders when they need it most. This fund assists Knights facing food insecurity, illness and natural disasters, helping them navigate challenging times and continue their education. It also supports �鶹ԭ�� student and resident/fellow wellness programs.

Forty-eight percent of college students are affected by housing insecurity, and 14% are affected by homelessness, according to a recent Hope Center for College, Community and Justice survey. The Housing Insecurity Fund provides relief to students experiencing housing insecurity or facing homelessness, helping them continue their education and thrive.

Created to support students facing hardship that may hinder their education, the Student Emergency Fund provides financial support for textbooks, fees and other education-related expenses for qualifying students.

The Office of Military and Veteran Student Success (MVSS) was created to provide student veterans with the tools, resources and support needed to earn their degrees. By making a gift to the MVSS, you’ll help fund supplies, programs and events that benefit the center.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of �鶹ԭ��’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), which is dedicated to preparing the next generation of energy leaders. Your gift to FSEC supports research, workforce development and education activities, including the annual EnergyWhiz competition for K-12 students, professional development for teachers and continuing education for energy practitioners. Help expand these efforts and more as we work toward a more resilient energy future.

The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) is �鶹ԭ��’s globally ranked graduate program, preparing students for careers in the game industry with expertise in areas such as the arts, programming, production, design and more. Support the next generation of industry leaders by ensuring they have access to cutting-edge technology and meaningful learning experiences.

These are just a few of the many impactful funds that you can donate to during �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving on April 10. We encourage you to explore the and make a gift to the area that matters most to you.

5 Things to Know About �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving 2025

�鶹ԭ�� Communications — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:13:37 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving is a 24-hour fundraising event. It’s one day for every Knight — alumni, faculty, parents, students and friends — to rally together in celebration of everything we love about �鶹ԭ��.

On April 10, Day of Giving is back and better than ever.

Here are five things Knights should know about �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving 2025:

1. You can make an impact in any area of �鶹ԭ�� that you want.

Did you know that $125 can buy a graphing calculator or help support a future nurse with their clinical scrubs? When you give to �鶹ԭ��, you decide where your donation goes.

Direct your donation to a college or cause you love. Support research that can change the world. Fund Orlando’s Hometown Team. Provide food, clothing and personal hygiene products to students in need through Knights Helping Knights Pantry. Give to first-generation scholarships, student resources or innovative programs, like the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. The possibilities are endless, and the choice is yours.

2. You can help your college, school or department win bonus funds.

This year, friendly competition remains a part of �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving. Colleges and units who lead the way in number of gifts or number of dollars will have the chance to win bonus funds. And the higher your favorite college or unit climbs the leaderboards, the more bonus funds they can win.

With $150,000 up for grabs, rally your friends and your competitive Knight spirit to make sure your cause is in first place, amplifying the impact of your gift.

3. You can get competitive with your participation.

Want to make your gift go even further? Challenges give you more chances to win bonus funds for your favorite �鶹ԭ�� cause. Participate in all-day, hourly and social media challenges on �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving.

If you win an individual challenge, you get to choose where the bonus funds go. The more bonus funds your college or unit wins, the more amazing things they can accomplish.

Explore this year’s .

4. Your support shows others how much you value �鶹ԭ��.

�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving is a full day to celebrate �鶹ԭ�� and show the world what it means to be a Knight. By supporting with a gift, getting involved on social media, and engaging your friends and family in the excitement, you’re shining a light on some of the amazing things happening at �鶹ԭ��. By amplifying those stories, you can invite more people to discover all the greatness connected to our university. So, get ready to share on April 10 and celebrate everything we love about Knight Nation.

5. You can encourage others to give, too!

Sign up to be a �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving Ambassador! Share your unique giving link and track the impact you’ve made on �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving. Sign-up starts the week of March 25.

You+2: Make a gift using your unique giving link and encourage two others to do the same. Participants will receive an exclusive piece of �鶹ԭ�� swag. Find more details .

Encourage others to give to the causes that mean the most to you.

Bonus: Your gift is tax-deductible — providing an extra benefit for your support.

�鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving gifts are eligible for tax deductions based on IRS regulations during the calendar year that the gift was made. After making an online gift to �鶹ԭ��, you will receive an immediate tax receipt by email.

Join us in celebrating �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving by making your gift on April 10 at .

It Takes a Swarm: Help Rebuild a Bear-ravaged Beehive

Camille Dolan ’98 — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 15:59:31 +0000

Across the 800 or so acres of �鶹ԭ��’s natural lands, the bees are not only buzzing in the trees, but also in four official beehives and a half-hive “nucleus” managed by the �鶹ԭ�� Arboretum and Sustainability Initiatives.

There used to be more beehives on the east side of the arboretum’s natural lands. Those areas comprise a variety of ecosystems — scrubby and wet flatwoods, and dome and strand swamps — that are unique and protected from development but not from the area’s natural predators.

One of those predators, the Florida black bear, wreaked havoc on a beehive there in 2023.

�鶹ԭ�� Arboretum beehive destroyed by bears in 2023.

The marauding animal likely took advantage of the natural habitat with its lack of people, lighting and machinery, and was just doing what bears do, says Jennifer Elliott ’04 ’09MS, director of the �鶹ԭ�� Arboretum and Sustainability Initiatives.

Plus, she says, a black bear’s sense of smell can easily be measured in miles.

“I have no doubt that every olfactory nerve in her brain was alerted to an ample supply of fresh honey and yummy insect larvae in the hive,” Elliott says. “She knew exactly where she was going, and what she was going to do.”

Elliott believes the hungry bear was a female; a bear has been spotted in the area, sometimes with cubs in tow, over the past several years. Perhaps, Elliott says, the mama bear was teaching her cubs about a great food source.

In the aftermath of the feeding frenzy lay splintered wood, spilled honey, thousands of honeybee carcasses and hexagons of protective beeswax containing remnants of future honeybees.

The total loss of the honeybees was devastating, says Amanda Craig ’24, junior mentor and beekeeper for the Arboretum.

Want to support the Knight bees? Make a gift to the �鶹ԭ�� . Want to increase your impact? Join us on Thursday, April 10 on and swarm the day with gifts for our pollinating friends.

As a beekeeper, Craig is responsible for inspecting each hive and checking the frames to determine what the bees are doing.

“An inspection reveals a lot about what the bees are up to, including population sizes, if they are thinking about swarming and their general health,” Craig says.

Craig, along with volunteers from the Arboretum Beekeepers Club, a �鶹ԭ��-registered student organization, also assists with honey production each June. Last year, �鶹ԭ�� honeybees produced about 50 pounds of the amber liquid. Bottles are sold to the community, and the money raised goes back into the Arboretum and Sustainability Initiatives fund.

In addition to providing the community with honey, bees, along with �鶹ԭ�� moths, bats, butterflies and other insects, are also a critical component of educating and feeding �鶹ԭ�� students.

The Arboretum’s Learning by Leading program maintains a community farm and garden, which provide fresh fruits and vegetables to students in need through Knight’s Pantry.

This, along with all of the Arboretum’s programs, are creating a buzz.

The Arboretum has received national recognition for its efforts to support healthy bee activity. In 2018, �鶹ԭ�� was the first school in Florida to be named a Bee Campus USA. The honor signals that �鶹ԭ�� actively addresses the plight of pollinators through operations, educational programs and community engagement.

Last year, �鶹ԭ�� honeybees produced about 50 pounds of honey.

Even after earning that special designation, Elliott says she still has a long wish list of enhancements that she would like to see for the Arboretum. In the short term, they need a bigger office space, increased community volunteers and, of course, the apiary to replace the one that the bear destroyed.

“Wouldn’t it be great to have educational apiaries across our campus, integrated into existing buildings where our Knights can safely observe our wonderful honeybees, while also keeping the bees safe from the occasional hungry bears with whom we also share our beautiful natural lands?” she says.

Help �鶹ԭ��’s honeybees and other pollinators by making a gift on , which is April 10.

A Day to Make a Difference

Robert Stephens — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 13:00:37 +0000

Community has always been at the core of the annual , and this year it coincides with #407 Day, a day Orange County has proclaimed to encourage financial support in Central Florida on April 7. At �鶹ԭ��, we’ve seen how one day of generosity can impact the entire campus of Knights: the marching band, the athletic department, research labs and first-generation students. During �鶹ԭ��’s three previous Days of Giving, more than 8,000 donors joined the 24-hour movement — contributing a total of nearly $1.3 million.

The donations have come from every time zone — Hawaii, Alaska, California, Colorado, Nebraska and New York — and from every walk of life — engineers, artists, business executives and pastors. The donors are �鶹ԭ�� faculty and administrators. They’re parents of students and parents of parents. They include alumni from the class of ’73 and future alumni from the class of 2023.

This year’s goal is 5,000 donors. Join the celebration and make a gift at .

Here’s an idea. Last year, 10 alums from around the U.S. provided what others could use as a template during the �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving. They reconnected online, formed a team, and they created a special fund to support students from underrepresented communities.

“We don’t want [finances] to stand in the way of those students living out what was the greatest four years of learning for us,” says Bianca Deslouches ’11.

As philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott noted when she donated $40 million to �鶹ԭ�� last year: “Generosity is generative. Sharing makes more.” A recent study from the University of Bristol in England confirms that, yes, giving is contagious, just look at the evidence here at �鶹ԭ��.

During the first �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving in 2018, donors gave $157,000. In 2021, the giving more than quintupled to $835,000. Hundreds of gifts were symbolic, such as $20.21, and at least one was enormous, including a $250,000 gift from Jessica Blume ’80 and her husband, Ken, who wanted to support a scholarship program for first-generation business students.

The spirit of generosity moved more than 3,000 gifts in 2021 — 60% more than in 2018 — to go online to lift others up. Among them, 92 people rallied behind the Joyce DeGennaro Memorial Scholarship, in honor of the �鶹ԭ�� alum and instructor who taught the importance of empathy to her nursing students.

“I will absolutely be a more caring nurse, thanks to her,” says alum Megan Donnelly ’13 ’21. She’s expanding DeGennaro’s legacy. And, like every donor on �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving, she’s living out DeGennaro’s most important lesson: Do unto others … .

That’s the reason another 80 people gave last year to what is quickly becoming a cornerstone of selflessness at �鶹ԭ�� — Limbitless Solutions. �鶹ԭ�� alum Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD cofounded Limbitless with two classmates, John Sparkman ’13 ’15MS and Dominique Courbin ’18, in 2014. Their goal at the time exemplifies the spirit of giving: to design, create and give bionic arms to children with limb differences — free of charge. They used $200 of their own money to take the first Limbitless arm from concept to reality for a 6-year-old boy who’d never known what it was like to hug with two arms. Limbitless now has an entire community of Knights behind their work.

“We have people everywhere,” Manero says of the recently opened 6,000-square-foot facility in Research Park, where 40 undergraduates come to learn and lend expertise in fields ranging from biology and graphic art to psychology, theater and engineering.

“The donations from �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving have allowed us to bring in more interns and amplify what we do,” Manero says. “Everyone — the donors, the students, the families who we help — becomes part of a robust story.”

This is what philanthropy can do. It makes dreams come true.”

— Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD

To summarize: More donations means more interns. More interns means more impact. More impact means empowering more people to reach their potential.

During her internship Julia Barry ’21 soldered parts, assembled arms and showed recipients how to use their bionic arms. In the process, her own worldview changed.

“I’ll never forget the connection I felt when a girl who’d received a bionic arm came to the lab on my birthday and gave me a hug,” Barry says. “Because of that, as an engineer, I’ll always think about the person on the receiving end of whatever I’m doing.”

Barry makes perhaps the most important point of all. For someone — actually, a lot of people — April 7 will signify a day of receiving.

“This is what philanthropy can do,” Manero says. “It makes dreams come true.”

Join the celebration and make a gift April 7 at .

�鶹ԭ�� Sees Record Numbers for Day of Giving 2021

Susan Watkins — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:23:29 +0000

Members of the �鶹ԭ�� community raised more than $835,000 in 24 hours to support �鶹ԭ�� during this year’s Greatest Day of Giving, a 24-hour philanthropic challenge that took place March 24 to raise funds for everything from scholarships and academic programs to athletics and student support funds.

�鶹ԭ�� surpassed its goal of 2,021 donors for this year with a total of 3,133 alumni, parents, friends, students, faculty and staff members contributing to a wide range of funds that will have big impact on students and programs campus wide. Donors from almost every state in the country showed their support.

Thanks to a group of generous donors, several one-time challenge gifts helped inspire increased giving. As challenges were achieved, bonus funds were “unlocked” – adding thousands of dollars in support of �鶹ԭ�� programs and scholarships. Members of the �鶹ԭ�� Foundation Board sponsored a $320,800 challenge gift and members of the �鶹ԭ�� Alumni Board sponsored $30,850.

Results are still being tallied, but so far the top-supported funds included ($37,300) ($36,776), Keep Charging On Fund for �鶹ԭ�� Athletics ($23,586), ($10,772) ($14,325) and ($13,320).

A $250,000 gift from Jessica Blume ’80 and her husband, Ken, will support a scholarship program for business students who are the first in their families to attend college. This commitment, which marks the largest single gift in the history of the �鶹ԭ�� Day of Giving campaign, will provide greater opportunities for first-generation students to graduate from college.