By Jenifer Wright ’17, director of annual giving
Feb. 9, 2021, marks a very important day for me. It’s not my birthday, my anniversary or my children’s birthdays. It’s #WoodsGivingDay – the first one I have coordinated in my role as director of annual giving at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
Being an alumna of the College gave me a sense of awareness about this day before working here, but I never imagined the amount of work it takes to set up such a day of giving. In years past, The Woods has hosted this day on Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. As I was learning my part here, I suggested moving #WoodsGivingDay to February. Like other Wabash Valley institutions, we wanted to move away from Giving Tuesday to set ourselves apart, highlighting our continued growth and success. This will allow us to share our message broader and bigger than ever before.
I understand that everyone may not be able to afford a monetary donation, but all gifts of any amount make a difference. There is another way you can show your support for The Woods on Feb. 9 this year as well – through supporting our community partners – a new feature I am excited to share.
We have partnered with Little Bear Coffee Co. (run by a fellow SMWC alumna, Maja Alic ‘11G), 5th Street Nutrition, Federal Coffee + Fine Foods, Culvers and Chick-fil-A. Each of these local businesses will be giving back some of the proceeds from specialty sales on #WoodsGivingDay. Watch for deals and some cool Woods’ inspired menu items on The Woods social media and eblasts.
Also new this year is the creation of a social media toolkit, now online at smwc.edu/giving/wgd-social-media-toolkit/. Included are images, words and more that you may download and share on your own preferred social media platform. Spreading the word of #WoodsGivingDay and SMWC will be a big help.
Don’t worry – this ‘in with the new’ doesn’t mean ‘out with the old.’ We will once again have SMWC socks for those who donate $50 or more on #WoodsGivingDay. This year’s edition has an argyle style with the SMWC logo, and, if I do say myself, are super cute and comfy! Donate or pledge early because supplies will be limited.
Although 2020 and the beginning of 2021 have posed may challenges to doing our work, The Woods continues to carry on, creating a generation of future nurses, teachers, leaders and more. Your donations, purchases from local businesses and sharing information about this event and the good work of the College contributes to the education of Woodsies today and for generations to come. As an alumna I know I am grateful. And believe me as I talk with our students, they students are thankful, too.
Please consider giving to The Woods on #WoodsGivingDay by making your donation online at giving.smwc.edu or calling 888-769-0013. You’re not only making my day, you are making the day, the month, the year and beyond for those who benefit from a Woods education.
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