ONE DAY for Montclair – A Record-Breaking Day

In a powerful show of Red Hawk pride and generosity, the Montclair community came together for its annual day of giving, ONE DAY for Montclair, raising over $1.1 million to empower students and support the programs that shape their futures.

“ONE DAY for Montclair is a day where our entire community — alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and families — come together to make a real impact for our students and programs,” says Kara Baldwin Brennan ’92, senior director of Annual Giving. “It’s a chance for everyone to feel part of something big and impactful.”

Donors had the opportunity to support areas of campus they are most passionate about, contributing to scholarships and programs that directly benefit students. Gifts poured in from across the country, with over 1800 donors participating through online giving, champion challenges and on campus during World’s Fair Day. Special matches and challenges throughout the day encouraged donors to support the areas of campus they care about most.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of ONE DAY. Over the past decade, the initiative has raised more than $1.9 million through over 8,000 gifts. Brennan reflected, “We aspired to reach $1 million, and we’re so excited to be celebrating the incredible response from our alumni, families, friends, faculty and staff. Our gratitude is overwhelming.”

To celebrate the milestone, the team brought a sense of fun and nostalgia to the campaign through social media, highlighting popular trends such as the Renegade dance, the Mannequin Challenge—featuring Montclair’s own Jersey Joe ’24—and the Ice Bucket Challenge.

Alyssa Arroyo ’27 shared, “ONE DAY for Montclair is more than just a fundraiser, it’s a celebration of Red Hawk pride and continuing the success of future generations. It has helped students like me pursue our dreams and I’m excited to see how the community came together to make an even greater impact this year!”

Throughout the day, a variety of matches and challenges energized donors and helped amplify the impact of each gift. 

Our Red Hawk Athletic teams and programs were competitive to see which team could secure the most donors and gain additional funds for their area thanks to the generosity of Judith Schumacher Tilton, Montclair State University Foundation Board Member.

Additionally, the College of the Arts Advisory Board came together to award $13,000 to the funding areas with the most donors – amplifying the effect of donor participation from the College of Communication and Media, Cali School of Music, Theater and Dance and Art and Design. 

Micro-challenges were established by Foundation Board members, Greg Collins ‘79, in support of the EOF Book Fund, Beth Gottung ‘19 MA, in support of the Emergency Scholarship Fund and Robert Lieberman in support of the Red Hawk Pantry. Academic challenges were also met throughout the day.  

The day emphasized participation across the entire community, including strong support from the Class of 2026—Montclair’s newest alumni, who will graduate in just a few weeks. Together, they raised more than $11,000 toward their class gift.

“Students gave $20.26 in honor of their graduating year to support the areas of campus they care most about,” said James Stewart, associate director of Annual Giving. “They also had the option to contribute more and include a personalized message to be displayed at the Commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center. Students were excited to know their gifts counted toward ONE DAY totals and received a philanthropy cord to wear proudly during the ceremonies as a thank-you for their support.”

The impactful partnership with Java Love Roasting Co. continued this year. Donors were invited to give up their latte and make that their gift to lift up the next generation of Red Hawks. As a special thank you, Java Love Roasting Co. provided every donor with a coupon to use on a latte or other treat of their choice. 

“We were so happy to once again promote participation with the Give a Latte Challenge, sponsored by our community partner, Java Love Roasting Co.,” added Brennan. “Give up your latte for one day, one week or one year, and receive $5 off at Java Love. We are so grateful for their annual partnership!”

Behind the scenes, the University’s ONE DAY Champions helped power the day’s momentum. These dedicated volunteers shared messages across social media and email, encouraging their networks to participate. Equipped with a toolkit of resources, Champions helped spread the word and inspire others to get involved.

“It is important for me to give back and I always encourage others to join me,” said Laura Ryblewski ’96, ’99MA a ONE DAY Champion.

The campus was buzzing with excitement throughout the day as the community celebrated World’s Fair Day, an annual celebration of Montclair’s vibrant cultural community. Hundreds of students, faculty and staff gathered on Alumni Green to sample international foods while enjoying performances by Montclair’s student organizations.

Additionally, Montclair faculty and staff brought their young Red Hawks to campus for Bring Your Child to Work Day, adding even more energy to the celebration. Families, students, faculty and staff visited tables across campus that showcased funds and programs supported through ONE DAY for Montclair. 

In total, over 1800 donors came together to support Montclair on ONE DAY. We are incredibly grateful for this inspiring show of generosity and for everyone who helped make the day such a success.