TU Big Give yields big results

Towson University had a challenge: raise $100,000 in 24 hours for its students, faculty and staff who were in need amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Not only did the TU community answer the call, it set a historic precedent for giving.
 
The 2020 TU Big Give held on April 22 cultivated about $130,000 from 1,300 donors.
 
In addition, an anonymous member of the class of 1979 donated $50,000. In total, donors raised an estimated $180,000, with the bulk of the funds going to the TU Faculty & Staff Emergency Fund, the TU Fund and TU Student Emergency & Food Insecurity Fund. Final numbers for the campaign will be released at a later date.
 
“I’m so very proud of our community for its participation in the TU Big Give,” Towson University President Kim Schatzel says. “It warms my heart that, especially in these unprecedented circumstances, our community came together to support Tigers in need.”
 
Last year, 1,200 donors participated in the first TU Big Give, a one-week effort that was a significant success, raising about $101,000.
 
“We are extremely grateful to everyone in our TU community who listened to the needs of our students, faculty and staff,” says Nky McGinnis, director of the annual campaign. “The amount raised in our first 24-hour TU Big Give was nothing short of BIG. We really rallied together and showed everyone that Tigers always help Tigers in a BIG way.”
 
As of April 28, almost 800 grants have been awarded totaling over $206,000 an average of $200-300 per awardee.

McGinnis said the faculty and staff campaign received particularly vocal support from Shohreh Kaynama ’76, dean of the College of Business & Economics, and Benjamin Lowenthal, vice president & CFO, Administration & Finance.
 
More on-campus champions of the cause included Lisa Plowfield, dean of the College of Health Professions; Greg Faller, interim dean of the College of Fine Arts & Communication and professor Richard Vatz. Key alumni supporters included Sherman Ragland ’84, Edna Primrose ’84, Paul-Sean Gray Sr. ’88 and Susan Ricci Rogel, a parent of members of the class of '16, '20 and '22.
 

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland and Culture of Philanthropy.