Gifts raised during 24-hour fundraisers at CSB, SJU will benefit student scholarships

There were clear beneficiaries to the "$100K in a Day" and "Give SJU Day" 24-hour fundraisers at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, respectively.

Students.

Both events were successful Wednesday, Nov. 11, raising over $600,000 from nearly 1,400 donors combined. But the real beneficiaries were CSB and SJU students - the money raised will fund scholarships to CSB and SJU students.

CSB had a goal of raising $300,000, and exceeded that by receiving gifts of $328,519.14 from 781 donors. Those figures included 10 challenge fund donors who provided $165,000 in matching grant funds.

Donors came from 43 states and three countries, and gifts ranged from $2 to $8,500 (not counting the challenge fund donors).

"As the dust settles (Thursday, Nov. 12), we are feeling so grateful," said Maggie Weber Utsch '00, director of annual giving at CSB. "Together, we saw the importance of the goal and 781 donors stepped up to help us achieve our largest single-day of online giving."

At SJU, 616 donors made gifts that totaled $306,757. Those figures included anonymous alumni who provided $100,000 in matching grant funds.

Donors came from 38 states and four countries, and gifts ranged from $10 to $25,000.

"It was a great day with fantastic energy," said Raj Chaphalkar '08, director of annual giving at SJU. "People really got into it. It's clear donors care about this place and our students, even students they haven't met yet. That truly inspires me."

This was the second year CSB and SJU sponsored separate 24-hour giving challenges on the same day.

Both of these efforts are part of larger fundraising efforts that both CSB and SJU conduct individually to provide scholarships to students.