February 26, 2025
Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor
March 4, 2025, marks Western’s annual Giving Day — a way for people to donate to their chosen clubs, organizations, scholarships or other funds. Started in 2016, Giving Day has been an integral part of making sure the university and its students have the resources they need.
Nearly every college and university has a day specifically for crowdfunding. For Western, it’s “Howl from the Heart.” It is a component of “Wolves Rising: The Campaign for Western Oregon University,”a fundraising program launched Dec. 14, 2024, with an overall goal of raising $20 million for the university to better support students overall.
Western has highlighted funds on the Giving Day website, including athletics, the Student Success Center, scholarships and the “Future Wolves Fund.” The website also promotes donating to the “Fund for WOU.” This is a general fund that will go toward the areas with the most need, such as campus maintenance and facilities, offsetting operating expenses and funding current campus activities.
Every year, Giving Day gets bigger and better. This year, Western has a goal in sight of $300,000, compared to the nearly $250,000 that was reached last year. The crowdfunding day also has more than 60 funds to support, compared to last year’s 40 funds.
On Giving Day 2024, the university created a service and volunteer aspect so students can give back to both Western and the surrounding communities. This year, the students’ community service will extend to Salem for park cleanup — an occupational therapy project. Alongside it, a blood drive on campus was hosted successfully. A need for student volunteers remains at Heron Pointe Senior Living in Monmouth to spend time with seniors from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 4. Students can sign up to volunteer by going to this Google Form.
If students want to find volunteer opportunities outside of Giving Day, a service fair will be held on campus on March 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Willamette room of the Werner University Center that will help organizations needing volunteers get connected with students.
If a certain club, organization or other facet of Western isn’t listed on the website, donors can press the red “Make a Gift” button in the top right corner. This page allows donors to designate their gift to the place of their choice.
Everyone is welcome to participate in Western’s Giving Day, including students, alumni, faculty, friends of the university and other community members. It is a great way for anyone to show their support, regardless of their affiliation with Western.
If people would like to get more involved in Giving Day, and potentially win a $50 gift card, they can sign up to become a Giving Day Ambassador.
“Giving Day Ambassadors are people just like you — students, staff, faculty, parents and friends of the university,” David Beasley, the director of development, annual giving and sponsorships, said in an email to the student body. “By signing up to be a Giving Day Ambassador, you can let alumni, friends, family, colleagues and others know about how they can support Western students.”
Two students can each win a gift card, with one student bringing in the most gifts and the other raising the most money. To become an ambassador, press the “Ambassador Sign-up” button on the Giving Day website. Then, fill out the short form and choose what program to support. After submitting the form, potential ambassadors will receive a unique donation link through email. When Giving Day arrives, they can share the link with others and give them the opportunity to donate to the ambassador’s chosen fund.
If one does not receive a link from an ambassador and would still like to donate, many options are available, including calling 503-838-8814, visiting the Giving Day website — givingday.wou.edu — or going to The Cottage on Western’s campus and giving donations in-person.
A Feb. 12 press release written by Maureen Brakke stated, “Join Western Oregon University on March 4, 2025, for Howl from the Heart. Make a meaningful contribution and help ensure that every student at Western has the resources they need to thrive.”
Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu
