Giving Tuesday

This holiday season, the UIC community will have the opportunity to give current and future students an important gift.

Giving Tuesday, which will take place Nov. 29, is designed to engage alumni, faculty and students to raise money for UIC. The donations can be allocated to anything from student scholarships to new lab equipment.

“It’s a day for the UIC community to unite in supporting the tenacious students who are here chasing an opportunity, world-class faculty and the new knowledge they discover and the service we perform that empowers communities here and around the world,” wrote Jeff Nearhoof, vice chancellor for advancement, in an email.

Donation tables will be set up around campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to stop by and spread the word about the event by using #GivingTuesday on social media.

“The goal of #GivingTuesday is to focus awareness on the enormous impact philanthropy can have at UIC,” wrote Chancellor Michael Amiridis in an email. “Whether through the big foundations or simply the individuals who generously support our efforts, it’s important to be reminded that every gift helps UIC.”

Last Giving Tuesday, the university raised $89,000 from 619 donors. Jeff Nearhoof says this year’s goal is to “blow last year’s numbers out of the water.”

To do so, students can contribute in more ways than one. Since it may be hard for current students to give money, UIC is encouraging them to visit a Giving Tuesday location and write “Thank You” cards to donors. Students will receive a UIC coffee mug for their time.

“As UIC, sometimes we lack pride because we have a lot of commuters,” said Eileen Thanitanont. “We’re still a community, we still stand for the same thing. Why not take one day out of the year to step back and realize all that we have?”

Tables will be set up outside Student Center East, Student Center West, and University Hall.