Thank-A-Donor Day Lets Campus Community Show Appreciation for Gifts to UK

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 22, 2015) — Donors play an integral role in making the University of Kentucky the outstanding institution it is.  They not only provide UK the ability to offer excellent facilities, academic programs and extracurricular activities, but they also provide many students the opportunity to attend UK through scholarships and fellowships.  Now, students and other members of the UK community can say "thank you" in a special way.

Thank-A-Donor day is planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, when a large banner will be mounted on campus in the area between White Hall Classroom Building and the Ralph G. Anderson Building. Students can stop by and write a personal thank you note on the banner or make a short video recording of gratitude. Photos of the banner and a video of the event will be shared with UK donors and the banner will be displayed on campus.

Sponsored by UK Student Government and coordinated by the UK Office of Annual Giving, Thank-A-Donor day gives students the chance to show their appreciation for the impact donors make on them and the university as a whole.

“Last fiscal year, 54,275 donors made 101,277 gifts to UK, the first time we have topped the 100,000 mark," said Anne V. Lichtenberg, director of Annual Giving. "Many of our donors were once UK students paying tuition and other school expenses, and they now want to help today's students earn an education and hopefully inspire that cycle of giving to continue."

In a message to UK students this week, Student Government President Austin Mullins encouraged his fellow students to participate in Thank-A-Donor Day.

"Like many of you, our dream of earning a college degree at the University of Kentucky has been made possible through scholarships funded by a generous group of people who dearly love this university," he said. "You can sign a large ‘thank you’ banner or make a video thanking these individuals for funding scholarships and the facilities you see under construction across our campus. They have made all of this possible—for us!”

Evan Avery, a senior communications student from Danville, Kentucky, plans to sign the banner at Thank-A-Donor Day.

“The scholarship support I have received from UK not only has enabled me to pursue my college degree, but has given me peace of mind about covering my every day college expenses," said Avery, recipient of the Student Development Officer Scholarship. "I am forever grateful to the donor who has made this possible and thank them for supporting students like me.”

Last year, hundreds of students and members of the UK community filled every inch of the banner with their words of gratitude. Among last year's messages were:

·         "Because of your support, I was able to be a first generation college student and inspire my community!  Living Blue!"

·         "We appreciate what the university has done for us! Thank you for supporting our Agriculture community!"

·         "Thanks to your generosity, I am the first child in my family to attend college and follow my dream!"

·         "With your generosity, all UK students have the opportunity to succeed at UK and beyond!"

The rain location for this second annual Thank-A-Donor Day is inside the White Hall Classroom Building.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Kathy Johnson, 859-257-3155