Campus News

UK Alumni and Friends Invited to #SeeBlueGiveBlue on #GivingTuesday, Nov. 29

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students on steps for Giving Tuesday photo
Giving Tuesday logo

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 28, 2016) University of Kentucky alumni, staff and faculty, parents and friends are invited to join the UK community on Tuesday, Nov. 29 for #GivingTuesday, a day designated globally for philanthropic giving.

Anne Lichtenberg, director of annual giving at UK, said #GivingTuesday is a day fueled by the power of collaboration, social media and philanthropic support as nonprofit organizations, such as the University of Kentucky, encourage year-end giving.

This year marks the second time UK, its Office of Philanthropy and a majority of the university’s colleges and programs plan to rally behind this philanthropic movement. Following a successful inaugural year that raised $17,000, UK has set a one-day goal to raise a minimum of $25,000.

“We are pleased that the UK community is joining forces with the Office of Philanthropy as we encourage all of Big Blue Nation, including our alumni, staff and faculty, parents and friends, to make a gift to any area of the university they are passionate about,” Lichtenberg said.

Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the “charitable season when many individuals focus on their holiday and year-end giving,” she said.

This year’s #SeeBlueGiveBlue campaign will be made even easier for those wishing to make their gift online through the university’s recently launched peer-to-peer fundraising platform through Network for Good (https://uky.networkforgood.com/).

According to Mike Richey, UK vice president for philanthropy, the enhanced online giving service for UK “provides greater ease and convenience for the university’s alumni and friends desiring to support college programs and projects that mean the most to them, 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week.” 

Lichtenberg said, “Social media has become a significant way for UK to reach out to our alumni, parents and friends. We encourage everyone who participates in #SeeBlueGiveBlue to post on their social media platforms using the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #SeeBlueGiveBlue. We want all of UK and its supporters to promote this as a day of giving back to UK.”

#GivingTuesday was launched five years ago in response to the increased commercialization of Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and the subsequent Cyber Monday, which have become the busiest shopping days of the year. Last year, more than 30 thousand charitable organizations and nonprofit organizations in 71 countries participated in the daylong event.

 “#GivingTuesday is a day that unites the University of Kentucky community as we impact the mission of this great institution through philanthropy,” Lichtenberg said.

UK alumni, staff and faculty, parents and friends wishing to participate are asked to make their secure online gifts at https://uky.networkforgood.com