By Emily Glory Peters
In recognition of all the people and programs that make Scripps College such a special place, more than 300 members of our community came together to successfully raise $108,210 during this year’s Day of Giving on March 24, 2021. Along with parents, staff, students, and fellow alums, graduates of the last 20 years were especially engaged this year, making up more than a third of all donor gifts.
Themed “Sow Your Gratitude,” the event provided all members of the Scripps community the opportunity to share who or what they’re grateful for at Scripps. “The COVID-19 era has been a trying time for everyone, including those at Scripps, but we know that expressing gratitude is a powerful way to acknowledge the challenges of the last year while still celebrating our shared Scripps identity,” says Director of The Scripps Fund Perry Radford. “It was inspiring to hear stories from people whose lives have been positively touched by their College connection.”
Raising support for critical programs and connecting through “Gratitude Grams”
The Sow Your Gratitude campaign spotlighted two main giving areas, including The Scripps Fund, the College’s main operational fund that supports areas like academic programs, internship grants, and mental health and wellness. Donors gave $46,182 to The Scripps Fund, which will help the College continue to respond to opportunities—such as funding new racial justice and equity initiatives—as well as emergencies, including the recent COVID-19-related campus upgrades and renovations.
Scholarships also attracted significant support during Day of Giving, with donors giving more than $45,000 to student grants, including the new Lara Tiedens Scholarship Fund named for Scripps’ outgoing president. With typically one-third of the College’s budget going toward financial aid, these gifts will supply critical aid to the more than half of Scripps students who rely on this support to complete their studies. These gifts also bring the College nearer to its goal of becoming a “need-blind” institution—one that is capable of admitting any qualified student regardless of their financial resources.
“Supporting scholarship aid is an essential part of supporting Scripps’s larger mission to create a more equitable college,” share seniors Gabby Ollig ’21 and Vivian Matthews ’21, who work actively with donors as student supervisors with Scripps’ Phonathon team. By including a broader range of students, echoes Radford, the Scripps experience is enriched for all members.
“Scholarships help us attract the best academic talent who bring diverse experiences and worldviews to campus, allowing Scripps to better reflect the world around us,” she says. “That’s something that benefits our entire community, including donors.”
Scripps students share what they’re grateful for the Sow Your Gratitude campaign
This year’s Day of Giving also introduced Gratitude Grams, videos that any Scripps community member was able to easily record to share their gratitude with a Scripps connection, past or present. The gratitude grams were delivered to recipients’ inboxes during the campaign and included special messages to former classmates and faculty. In addition, multiple Scripps students submitted clips highlighting what they’re most grateful for about their College experience in a video that was shared with the community.
Grateful for every member of the Scripps community
As Scripps moves ahead with provisional plans to reopen campus for the 2021–2022 academic year, gifts from Day of Giving are essential in helping the College recover from last year’s substantial losses. In light of challenges faced during the pandemic’s turmoil, this support is not something the College takes for granted.
“The Scripps community is strong because of how committed our members are to lifting each other up,” says Radford. “On behalf of our students, staff, and faculty, we are truly grateful to those of you who continue to give your time, talents, and financial resources to this critical mission of advancing women’s higher education.”
Day of Giving occurs annually each spring. If you have not had a chance to make a gift and would like to support Scripps, please click here to give.