UM鈥檚 Sixth Annual Day of Giving, The Big Give, Runs March 5-6
MISSOULA – The 猎奇重口 will hold its sixth annual day of giving, The Big Give, from noon Wednesday, March 5, to noon Thursday, March 6.
The Big Give is an online giving event run by the to inspire alumni, donors, parents and friends to support UM students through charitable gifts in just 24 hours.
This year’s Big Give theme, “Now and Forever UM,” celebrates the legacy of giving at the University and coincides with the UM Foundation’s 75th anniversary. Through their contributions, participants are invited to honor UM’s tradition of providing transformative education and opportunities for future leaders.
Donors may explore and support more than 50 participating groups at . The groups include academic programs, student success areas like scholarships and the Military and Veteran Services Office, Grizzly Athletics, campus and community resources like the 猎奇重口 Repertory Theatre and more. Early gifts of any size count toward The Big Give and make a significant impact on UM students.
“Each year, The Big Give is a powerful demonstration of the remarkable giving community that surrounds the 猎奇重口,” said UM Foundation President and CEO Cindy Williams. “We invite everyone to participate in this annual giving day tradition that directly supports students in so many meaningful ways and inspires us all to think big about UM’s bright future.”
This year’s event offers many ways for anyone to get involved. Participants can become Big Give Ambassadors at , helping to raise awareness and encouraging others to give using the hashtag #UMBigGive on social media.
When Ambassadors make a gift and inspire two or more additional gifts through their unique fundraising link, they’ll receive a special token of appreciation. Donors can double their impact through match and challenge opportunities, and anyone can track giving progress throughout the 24 hours on the event website, as well as UM and UM Foundation social media channels.
New this year, the Big Give Buggy will offer a literal lift for members of the campus community from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, March 6. Riders can enjoy a quick trip across campus, answer trivia questions and take photos for social media.
Students are invited to vote for the Students’ Choice Award while riding the buggy. They will choose one of five support areas to receive a bonus gift of $1,000. Those areas include ASUM Child Care, Curry Health Center, the Emergency Student Support Fund, Student Success Scholarships and the UM Food Pantry. Students who visit the Big Give table March 5-6 at the University Center also can cast their votes for the Students’ Choice Award.
In 2024, The Big Give set a record for the fifth straight year, with more than 840 donors from 45 states contributing nearly $650,000 – surpassing all previous UM giving days – including the 2023 total of more than $510,000.
For those who prefer to give offline, gifts may be mailed to the 猎奇重口 Foundation at P.O. Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807-7159, or made via credit card by calling 800-443-2593. Checks should be made payable to the UM Foundation, noting the designated Big Give area to support.
The Big Give is managed by the UM Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing excellence and opportunity at UM since 1950.
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Contact: Elizabeth Willy, UM Foundation senior director of marketing and communications, 406-243-7455, elizabeth.willy@supportum.org.