For the past five years, the university’s giving day fundraising event has taken place in early spring. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic put some plans for Linfield Gives on hold. But the Linfield community realized students need support during the coronavirus crisis more than ever — and Wildcats stepped up in a big way.
Instead of canceling Linfield Gives, the university piggybacked on #GivingTuesdayNow, a global giving movement, on May 5, with an additional day of fundraising on May 6. The Board of Trustees also provided a one-to-one match for all gifts.
During the two-day online event, the Linfield community raised more than $565,000, a record number of gifts from a record number of donors. Nearly 1,000 supporters helped Linfield students through gifts made to the Linfield Fund and the COVID-19 Student Aid Fund, which offers help with tuition, housing, books and other necessary expenses.
“There were those who said we should not be trying to do this now,” President Davis said at the time. “But our advancement team, spurred on by a generous jump start by our Board of Trustees and various other matching challenges, which you stepped up for, has exceeded its goals. Thank you one and all.”
