Alumni and University Supporters Raise Over $270,000 on One Day for Montclair

One Day for Montclair (#1Day4Montclair) is a day when the entire Montclair State University community comes together for a day of action and celebration. Thank you to our alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students for answering the call! This year, over 1,650 community members came together to raise over $270,000. Your support on April 27 helps us create opportunities, elevate achievements and celebrate our students.

“One Day for Montclair has turned into something special, and we are just amazed by how well the call to come together on behalf of the students was answered,” says Director of Annual Giving Kara Baldwin Brennan ’92. “We were thrilled by the tremendous energy felt throughout the day, especially knowing how impactful these gifts are. Last year was the first year we combined our event with World’s Fair Day on campus and it has made it a huge success and makes the challenges even more fun.”

Some of the giving challenges included donors supporting areas of campus they are most passionate about by providing a dollar for dollar match or additional cash award if a certain donor or dollar goal was reached. The CART (College of the Arts) Advisory Board set up one such challenge, providing awards to the schools/departments within CART garnering the most donors, including the Cali School of Music, Theatre and Dance, the School of Communication and Media, and the Department of Art and Design. Ultimately, the challenge raised over $25,000! Denise Rover ’84, CART Advisory Board member, remarked:

It is important to me to support my alma mater and I’ve been so proud to support a scholarship in my name for students in communication and media arts. As a member of the College of the Arts (CART) advisory board and an alumna, I’m also so proud to take part in One Day for Montclair. This annual giving day is an opportunity for us to come together to participate across all areas of campus. It’s about donor participation – no matter the size of the gift. I was pleased to donate and help participate in a challenge with fellow CART advisory board members to motivate donor participation. There is nothing we cannot do together – may Red Hawks continue to soar!

The University’s Foundation Board also came together to both create and support many challenges across campus. One of these was the Collins EOF Book Fund Challenge, set by Foundation Board President Greg Collins ’79. EOF Book Fund donors had their gifts matched dollar for dollar, which allowed the Fund to meet its goal of raising over $2,000. And, the real winners are the EOF scholars!.

Athletics get the distinction showing the most school spirit. Thanks to donors Stephen and Foundation Board Member Judith Schumacher Tilton, the three athletic teams able to rally the most donors received additional funding for their programs. Competition was lively, and in the end, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer and Men’s Basketball came out on top.

While the total number of donors included alumni, students, faculty, staff, friends and family, our recent graduates from the classes of 2010-2022 topped the leaderboard in participation. Current students were also heavily involved. For the second year in a row, One Day took place on World’s Fair Day, the annual end-of-the-semester celebration where Montclair State University faculty, staff and students honor the University’s rich diversity through food, dance performances, games and music from around the world. Booths with culinary delights from around the world and information about other countries and cultures lined the sidewalks on the Alumni Green outside of Cole Hall.

Part of the fun of the day for the students was learning about philanthropy. All gifts, large and small, add together to make a big impact! Many took advantage of the Give a Latte Challenge – give up a latte for one day, one week or one month, and make that your gift – and get a latte in return from the University’s generous community partner Java Love Roasting Co.

The incredible support from all members of the Montclair community allowed us to surpass our fundraising goals. In the end, the day-of-giving exceeded last year’s funds raised by $50,000. Funds raised will support everything from scholarship, to book funds, to areas of campus most in need. Since its inception in 2016, One Day for Montclair has raised more than $765,000 for students and programs. We look forward to continuing the tradition next April.

If you would like to donate in support of any of the funds mentioned, or another area of campus you feel most passionate about, visit: montclair.edu/make-a-gift