Xavier University News June 2015 2015 Give. Love. Xavier Day a Major Success Online Fundraiser Reaps Record Donations, Donors A record number alumni and friends of Xavier University of Louisiana - 2,711 donors to be exact - outdid themselves by donating a record total $441,891 during the third annual Give. Love. Xavier Day. This year's online fundraising event far exceeded last year's total of $275,000 and 1,157 donors, and even eclipsed this year's anticipated monetary and participation goals by nearly 10% and 47% respectively. "The response to this year's Give. Love. Xavier Day was overwhelming", said Dr. Kenneth St. Charles, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. "Xaverites coming together like this with an outpouring of financial support really showcases the spirit of our University." St. Charles said that donations to the one-day event which was held June 02 is the major fundraising event for the University's Annual Fund campaign and makes a vital difference in the lives of current students. All gifts go directly to the Annual Fund which supports scholarships and other important University programs. During the 24-hour pledge period alumni and friends were invited to come together for one day to show their support for the University with financial contributions, as well as to use social networks (such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) to spread the excitement and encourage their friends and followers to give as well. Another key element in the success of Give. Love. Xavier Day was the use of alumni captains to spur interest among fellow alumni, as well as the establishment of key Challenge Grant incentives: dollar for dollar matches that are realized when alumni and friends made their donations that day. "All of last year's Challenge Grant initiatives were met," said Kimberly Reese, XU Director of Alumni Relations. "Those matches brought in an extra $152,536 in pledges, making many of our donor dollars twice as impactful!" This year's theme was "Thank You, Dr. Francis" in honor of retiring XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis. That sparked two other new twists to this year's event: a XU National Alumni Association initiative designed to raise Xavier's alumni giving percentage to 47 percent in honor of Dr. Francis' 47 years of service, and the support of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, which encouraged listeners throughout the country to support the University. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.