Tufts community members united to make this year’s Giving Tuesday the most successful to date
A record-breaking 9,867 gifts poured into Tufts on Giving Tuesday on December 3, raising more than $2.7 million.
The Tufts community made its many voices heard during the global day of giving from forty-eight states and more than thirty countries; contributors included alumni, parents, students, families, faculty, staff, and friends.
It was the most complex Giving Tuesday that Tufts has offered yet—with numerous causes, teams, departments, and student groups that people could directly support, including university priorities such as financial aid, research, and the area of greatest need. Each school offered its own suite of challenges, with many departments and student organizations also joining in on the day for the first time.
“We are deeply grateful for everyone who has made this Tufts tradition successful once again,” said Tufts President Anthony Monaco. “The leadership, hard work, and enthusiasm of the broader Tufts community are inspiring, and every gift in this remarkable show of support will help enrich our students’ Tufts experience and advance our academic mission.”
Many students volunteered their time and energy, including Siobhan Shamlian, A20. “Giving Tuesday is always a ton of fun and is one of my favorite days of the year, because it allows us to stop and think about all the opportunities we’ve been given here, and just how lucky we are to be here,” said Shamlian, who helped staff tables around the Medford/Somerville campus and spoke with her peers about the importance of giving. “I hope to give back to Tufts just as much Tufts has given to me, and I hope after I graduate in May to have left the campus better than I found it.”
She and her fellow volunteers were especially proud of completing the 1852 Student Giving Challenge, in which 1,852 gifts from current students unlocked a financial aid pledge from two alumni. “We just barely had enough student donors to complete this challenge, which shows that every gift is super important and can make a difference,” Shamlian said.
The sound of Tufts pride rang out over social media all day Tuesday, with community members across all the schools announcing their gifts and calling others to contribute. “I’m delighted to give to the Global Research Fellowship at the Fletcher School, which provides students unique research opportunities that help advance both their educations & careers in service to others,” tweeted Tanya Hoke, F13. For her part, Stephanie Martin, J94, gave a shout-out to a her old team: “I give to Tufts Sailing on #GivingTuesday to say thanks for 4 years of great sailing and an amazing community of friends!”
The School of Engineering was well-represented, too. Hsuan-chi Lai, EG05, tweeted: “Very glad to be part of the chemical engineering community in Tufts where I have received world class education and endless opportunities. I decided to contribute to #TuftsGivingTuesday #TuftsChemE to empower more future Jumbos!”
Erin Connolly, A05, was one of many expressing athletics pride: “This #GivingTuesday, I’m proud to donate to @TuftsUniversity, which provided me with a wonderful education and the ability to play college basketball,” Connolly tweeted. “Go @TuftsWbball!”
As in years past, Tufts alumni, parents, and friends stepped up to offer more than sixty challenges across all the schools that incentivized giving.
“As a proud Tufts medical alum, it’s all about being grateful,” said Pearl Wu, M92, a member of the Tufts Medical Alumni Association Executive Council. “I am happy to be a donor for the Stethoscopes for Students challenge for Giving Tuesday, because it is one of many ways to give back to Tufts, and to help pay forward my passion for medicine.”
Wu’s challenge was one of the many that were met and exceeded. “I always remember the timeless adage of ‘When one drinks the water, one must always know its origin,’” she said. “Giving Tuesday is water for our Jumbo.”
Giving Tuesday gifts, like all gifts to Tufts, also support the priorities and aspirations of Brighter World: The Campaign for Tufts.
Monica Jimenez can be reached at monica.jimenez@tufts.edu.
