For the past four years, Rogers State University’s Giving Week has made a difference in the lives of students through donations made to the RSU Foundation from RSU faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university.
This year’s Giving Week seeks to make more of a positive impact than ever, while also celebrating the Foundation’s 50th anniversary with this year’s initiative dubbed “50 for 50 Giving Week” with a fundraising goal set at $50,000.
“Giving Week is an opportunity for anyone who has any association with RSU to give on an annual basis to the university,” said Steve Valencia, vice president for development. “Giving Week is where we see most of our alumni gifts come in, we see a lot of first-time and new donors, and we really get gifts of all sizes. We have donors who give thousands of dollars and donors who give $25, all of which collectively makes an impact on the institution.”
Valencia said Giving Week has traditionally been focused on the general scholarship fund and other initiatives, but with the observance of the Foundation’s 50th anniversary, the Foundation wanted to do something unique.
“Earlier this summer, we asked departments across all campuses – Claremore, Pryor and Bartlesville – to submit projects and initiatives that we could highlight during Giving Week – projects and initiatives that aren’t a part of the current university budget,” he said. “The goal was to provide alumni and friends with a variety of options to support RSU and enhance the student experience.”
Upon review of several outstanding submissions, Valencia said the Foundation decided to highlight the following programs, initiatives or causes:
- AeroCats STEM Training Team – Robotics Competition (Giving Week goal: $4,500)
- AeroGames Annual STEM (Drone) Competition (Giving Week goal: $4,500)
- Center for Western Foundations and the American Republic (Giving Week goal: $5,000)
- Department of Business Smart Classroom Improvements (Giving Week goal: $4,991)
- General Scholarship Fund (Giving Week goal: Unlimited support needed)
- Honors Program Student/Alumni Networking Event (Giving Week Goal: $3,000)
- Native American Music Digitization and Preservation Initiative (Giving Week goal: $4,950)
- Revitalization of the Student Veteran’s Center (Giving Week goal: $4,500)
You can watch videos about each of these initiatives and learn more about them at www.rsu.edu/givingweek.
To date, nearly $10,000 in gifts and pledges have already been received.
This year’s Giving Week begins Sunday, Sept. 24, and continues through Saturday, Sept. 30.
“We would love to reach the $50,000 mark in giving. That would far surpass anything we’ve done previously during Giving Week,” Valencia said, “and of course, all donations are appreciated and important and can be made any time of the year.”
For more information about Giving Week or to make a tax-deductible donation, contact Valencia at 918-343-7780, email at [email protected] or visit www.rsu.edu/GiveToRSU.
For more information about Giving Week, visit www.rsu.edu/givingweek.