Annual Giving Day Sets New Records, Reaffirms the Power of Purple

On February 25, despite a campus shutdown due to inclement weather, the College once again broke records on its annual Giving Day. A total of 5,361 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and friends donated a record $1,496,650 on the College's seventh annual day of giving. With $600,000 in matching dollars from Trustee donors, the total raised for Holy Cross was $2,096,650.

Celebrating the mission of Holy Cross, the 24-hour drive emphasized the College's commitment to scholarship and service. $1,086,872 was donated to the Holy Cross Fund, with $126,847 raised directly for financial aid. The Crusader Athletics Fund received $83,788 in support.

Gifts were also made to the Fund for Academic Excellence, which supports students' outstanding record of academic achievement; the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Fund, which broadly supports ongoing and enhanced DEI initiatives at the College; and Faith and Service, which nurtures the College's commitment to forming the whole person – the intellectual, social and spiritual self. Donors also gave to a variety of other areas that directly support our students: the Bishop Healy Emergency Fund, the Black Student Union Student Opportunity Fund, the Esther Levine Student Success Fund (LASO 30th anniversary), the LGBTQIA+ Leadership Fund and the O'Callahan Society.

As always, the competition between classes was fierce. In terms of number of donors, the top class was 1993, with 196 members participating. The top class for dollars raised was the class of 1982, which brought in $129,000. Younger classes showed their purple pride, rolling up a total that earned a Trustees' Matching Gift of $50,000. The class of 2012 led the ten youngest classes segment with 106 donors. The class of 2019 was close behind them, with 97 donors. Among graduates of the last decade, the class of 2013 was the top class in terms of dollars raised, with $14,730.

"This is an incredible story about participation," said Christene Riendeau, director of annual giving and volunteer engagement at the College. "Year after year, our alumni are among the top in the country for giving participation, with U.S. News & World Report naming us fifth nationally just last year. This is such a community effort and our volunteers are key – without them we could not achieve such support. Their passion and pride is infectious and palpable! We broke a record this year for Giving Day advocates, with 192 signing on to help spread the Power of Purple. And it’s important to realize that 70 percent of our gifts were under $100. Every individual gift truly matters, no matter the amount."

"When the Holy Cross community comes together," said Tracy Barlok, vice president for advancement, "we can create incredible opportunities for our students. I think our supporters understand that a gift to Holy Cross is an investment in and a statement of hope for the future. It’s about our community showing and sharing the College’s mission and knowing the value of what Holy Cross graduates bring to the world, especially now. Who doesn’t want to be part of that vision, and who would miss such a terrifically exciting day, full of classic Crusader fun! We are so truly grateful for each and every gift we received and for the generosity we witnessed on February 25."