MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech’s annual giving event was supercharged this year, going from one day to 37 hours to match the 37-cent donation that launched the renowned university 65 years ago.
Those extra hours were put to good use.
The 37 Hours of Giving event generated a surge of gifts from 3,050 donors. Their generosity helped Florida Tech reach $902,058 in donations raised since July 1. Both totals are records for the university, which held its first Day of Giving in 2015.
This success is due in part to how the event provided alumni a chance to give to the programs they love and to feel a part of campus life once again. And the extended hours helped boost the totals by providing donors a second day to participate.
For 37 hours straight, the university aired content, from interviews featuring President John Nicklow and the deans of all four colleges, to student competitions, golf cart tours with students and staff, and more.
Highlights included a 32-team rock, paper, scissors tournament won by the men’s varsity swimming team (pictured above) and a chess tournament won by biomedical engineering student Conner Weaver.
Among donor highlights was the establishment of an endowed scholarship from former Major League Baseball pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez ‘21. The gift was unlocked when the university hit 1,000 donors.
This year, 28 student clubs and organizations actively participated in the campaign. Notable mentions go to the ice hockey club team, with 35 donors, and newcomers like the College Players and American Meteorological Society student chapter, who, in their first year of participation, raised substantial funds for their organizations.
“These generous gifts to Florida Tech will make our strong university and its programs, experiences and facilities even better, and we are thrilled that ultimately all of this will benefit students here now and those yet to come,” said President John Nicklow. “On behalf of our entire university community in Melbourne, we thank all of our donors, including our amazing alumni.”
