UTRGV hosted its Day of Giving on Aug. 27, a 24-hour virtual fundraiser to provide financial support for Vaqueros. Their goal was to reach $100,000 and they successfully surpassed their goal by obtaining $270,030. The money that is raised will help UTRGV students, providing them with new opportunities, such as scholarships and resources.
The fundraiser will help students succeed in their academics.
Kelly Nassour, executive vice president for Institutional Advancement, also contributed to the event. She explained the progress the event has had in the past years.
“It’s been growing every year, thanks to all of the momentum and all of the success that the university has, ” Nassour said.
Nassour also gave a close look about how the event helps student organizations at UTRGV.
“Money came in for scholarships, for the emergency funds, for marching bands, for different colleges, for athletics,” she said. “You name it. The money came in for it and it all benefits the students.”
Gordon Thomas Jr., assistant athletic director for annual fund, explained how athletics utilizes the funds raised from the event.
“It helps with different resources that we can grab, so travel, nutrition, helping pay for the scholarships and things like that,” Thomas said. “Everything that is donated today, specifically to athletics, goes straight to our student athletes. Whether it’s sports specific or whether it’s overall just things that the athletic department can use to enhance your experience here.”
Thomas described his job in athletics.
“Our goal here is to support student athletes,” he said. “We make sure that they have the resources they need to graduate and win championships out here at UTRGV. So, Day of Giving gives us a great opportunity to just kinda rally all of our support in one shot in one single day to make that happen.”
Thomas encourages people to donate money to help the Athletics Department, the School of Medicine, Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship and other university programs.
Thomas was among those who donated to the university through its website. He said the best way to support UTRGV is through recurring payments.
Mariana Ybarra, a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore, wants UTRGV to have more events that can help students.
“I hope we have more events like this and I hope that the outcome is successful for the students,” Ybarra said.
Asia Divino, a 19-year-old marketing senior, said the Day of Giving not only benefits the students but also the donors.
“The overall idea of the Day of Giving is something that can be extremely beneficial for students, especially in the idea that they’d be providing a lot of benefits for students, which includes scholarships, which allows receiving more education, which is very, very helpful,” Divino said. “Success in every aspect for both the giver and the receiver.”
To make a contribution, visit donate.utrgv.edu.
This is Celeste Cruz for Vaquero Radio.
