As a way to help students reach their academic goals, UC Merced is inviting campus supporters to virtually come together and take part in the “Give to UC Merced” initiative.
For a second year, the traditional 24-hour period of giving held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving will be expanded through the whole month of December. The event will begin Tuesday, Nov. 30, and end Friday, Dec. 31.
“The generosity of our supporters ensures that we can help make a tremendous impact on the student experience and our research enterprise,” Vice Chancellor Ed Klotzbier said. “Each gift helps strengthen the future of our campus by providing the necessary resources to support scholarships, fellowships and student success initiatives, our faculty and their cutting-edge research endeavors and other areas important to the communities we serve. We are so very grateful for everyone’s support.”
Donations go toward more than 30 different UC Merced funds. Those funds are divided into six categories, including scholarships, fellowships, academics & research, student success programs, UC Merced Arts and the annual fund. Donors also have the option to donate to support multiple areas.
The 2021 goal is to get donations from 500 donors and raise $100,000 by Dec. 31. Since 2014, the annual Giving Tuesday campaign has helped the university raise over $1.8 million.
Several donors have committed to matching gifts, which will double the impact of every gift. Matching gift opportunities are available for the following funds:
- Graduate Dean’s Fellowship Fund,
- Graduate Fellowship for Undocumented Students
- Central Valley Fellowship Fund
- Food Security
- Student Emergency Fund
- Oxygen Fund
- Black Excellence Fellowship Fund
- Office of Leadership, Service, and Career
In addition, UC Merced’s immediate past Board of Trustees Chair, Denise Watkins, has generously offered to give $10,000 once the initiative raises $10,000.
Last year’s digital campaign encouraged donors to support the Central Valley Graduate Fellowship, among several other funds. Doctoral student Candace Cole was one of the scholarship recipients and is working toward her goal of understanding the development of antibiotic resistance trends in Merced.
“This fellowship affords me the time to get back to what I love most: conducting research,” Cole said. “I have characterized and compared antibiotic resistance trends in the local hospital, Dignity Health Mercy Medical Center, to nationwide U.S. trends.”
The Black Excellence Fellowship Fund was also among those areas that benefited from last year’s donations.
“I am so honored and thrilled to be participating in the Black Research Fellowship. My research focuses on the pursuit and the importance of Black holistic wellness, which is so important especially in today’s world,” scholarship recipient Tatiana Howell said. “Due to generous funds and support from the committee, I can continue with my research. I have learned so much throughout this process already and I am only a second-year. I am so very grateful for this opportunity.”
To participate in “Give to UC Merced” and show your support, visit giveto.ucmerced.edu.
