Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ 24-hour Day of Donors drew gifts from 513 people totaling more than $285,000, the Geneva college reported after the Oct. 6-7 campaign. Participation also met both donor-count goals needed to unlock $25,000 in challenge funding.
The college’s results announcement says alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and other supporters contributed to the Annual Fund. The fund supports scholarships, global education, internships, research, student life and needs the college identifies as greatest. The announcement did not say whether the challenge gifts were included in the reported total of more than $285,106.
Trustee Linda Arrington had pledged $10,000 if the campaign reached 250 donors. Board Chair Joseph Stein and Nancy Hedges Stein pledged another $15,000 at 500 donors. The final count of 513 cleared both thresholds.
The result completes a campaign the college announced before the Oct. 6 start. The prior announcement described the $25,000 as conditional; HWS now says the participation goals were reached and the challenge funds were unlocked.
Students wrote thank-you cards to donors at a campus Thank-a-Thon during the giving day. Some also took part in trivia for a chance at golf-cart rides to class from college staff members.
A separate goal of 100 parent donors also unlocked a Finals’ Fuel Parent Challenge sponsored by the Parents Executive Committee. HWS said students will be offered hot chocolate and refreshments Dec. 14 during reading days. The release did not report the final parent-donor count.
The college did not break down the amount raised by the six Annual Fund priorities or say when the money will be spent. It described the giving-day total as support for student opportunities rather than announcing a new scholarship amount or program launch.
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