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College of Media achieves fundraising goals during WVU’s Day of Giving

Day of Giving graphic

The WVU Reed College of Media raised more than $89,000 during West Virginia University’s fifth Day of Giving on March 9 – a record amount for the College.

Day of Giving is an annual 24-hour online fundraising event. Throughout the day, alumni, faculty, staff and friends made donations that unlocked challenges set by generous alumni. Thirty gifts of $300 or more unlocked a $30,000 gift from the Widmeyer family. Scott Widmeyer (BSJ, 1975) and his late father, Doug, have been longtime loyal donors, and this challenge gift was made in memory of Doug, who died in March 2021.

Additionally, the first 25 donations to the Maryanne Reed Student Enhancement Fund unlocked a $5,000 gift from a College of Media alum who wishes to remain anonymous. These gifts were enough to fully endow the fund, allowing the College to begin awarding money to students to help defray travel and lodging costs for internships and professional development opportunities.

Other donations made on Day of Giving will support student scholarships, including Diversity in Media Scholarships for underrepresented students; NewStart Fellowships for students in the Media Solutions and Innovation master’s degree program; and IMC and DMC Scholarships for graduate students enrolled in the online Data, Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications programs.

The College of Media also earned additional funds through the following social media and leaderboard challenges:

  • Day of Giving Facebook Sharing Video Challenge - $500
  • Tweet Challenge: 8 a.m. - $1000
  • Campus Photo Challenge: 9 a.m. - $1000
  • Thank a First-Responder or Frontline Worker Challenge: 2 p.m. - $1000
  • WVU Gear Pet Photo Challenge: 7 p.m. - $1500
  • “Country Roads” Challenge: 9 p.m. - $1500
  • Amount Raised Leaderboard – 20th place - $2000
  • Participation Leaderboard – 14th place - $2600
“I’m touched by the generosity of our alumni and friends during this year’s Day of Giving. I can’t overstate how important this fundraising is to ensure our students get opportunities and experiences that enhance their education and prepare them for their lives beyond WVU. Thank you to all who contributed. Every dollar raised truly does make a difference.” Dean Diana Martinelli