FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Richard Tucker
Director of Communications, Xavier University of Louisiana
P: (504) 520-5425, rtucker@xula.edu
2015 Give. Love. Xavier Day June 02, 2015
Online Fundraiser Seeks 2,000 Individual Donors
New Orleans LA, May 22) – Xavier University of Louisiana will hold its third annual Give. Love. Xavier Day – an online, social media-driven fundraising event – from 12:00 a.m. to midnight, June 2nd,.
The event encourages alumni and friends to come together for one day to show their support for the University with financial contributions. Participantsare encouraged to post about the event via social networks (such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) to spread the excitement and encourage their friends and followers to give. Conversations also are encouraged by sharing the hashtag #GLXU15, connecting to @XULAalumni website, and visitinghttp://www.xula.edu/givelove to pledge and see real-time results.
This year’s theme is, “Thank You, Dr. Francis”, in honor of retiring XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis.
Dr. Kenneth St. Charles, XU Vice President for Institutional Advancement, said all gifts made online that day go directly to the Annual Fund, which supports scholarships and other important University programs. The donor goal for this year’s campaign is 2,470 individuals.
“Members of the Xavier community coming together like this showcases the spirit of our University,” St. Charles said. “Part of our mission is to prepare students to assume roles of leadership and service in the global society and these alumni are taking on the responsibility of preserving that tradition. Their donations to the Annual Fund make a vital difference in the lives of current students.”
Tom Joyner, chairman and founder of the Tom Joyner Foundation, said, “he’s hoping alumni, friends, family and other supporters, will show some love by making a gift to Xavier. This is a great way to help out this great HBCU.”
Last year a total of $275,100 was contributed by nearly 1,200 donors, far surpassing the $120,000 collected in the inaugural year of the event.
A key element of Give. Love. Xavier Day is 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 on Give. Love. Xavier Day. This year’s event has nearly $135,000 in matching challenge grants which will only be realized if Xavierites and friends make gifts on June 02.
“All of last year’s Challenge Grant Initiatives were met,” said Kim Reese, XU Director of Alumni Relations. “Those matches brought in an extra $90,000 in pledges, making many of our donor dollars twice as impactful!”
Other new twists to this year’s event include 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 is encouraging its listeners throughout the country to support the University.
Xavier University of Louisiana has been named the Tom Joyner Foundation 2015 June School of the Month.
During June, Xavier University will be promoted by the Tom Joyner Morning Show and receive funds raised from listeners, alumni and other interested parties that month. The show, aired in 115 markets around the country, reaches nearly eight million listeners every week. Donations will be raised from June 1st until the end of 2015. Every Thursday, a Hercules Scholars will be named, recognizing an outstanding male student.
The Tom Joyner Foundation also will recognize XULA with stories on tomjoynerfoundation.com. Make your donation to Xavier University of Louisiana by visiting https://tomjoynerfoundation.com/glxud/.
More information on Give. Love. Xavier Day is available at http://www.xula.edu/givelove or by contacting Lacrecia James at (504) 520-5129.
About the Tom Joyner Foundation:
The Tom Joyner Foundation (https://tomjoynerfoundation.com) was founded in 1998 as the brainchild of nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner. The mission of the Foundation is to support historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with scholarships, endowments and capacity-building enhancements. The Foundation has provided necessary support to every HBCU in its 17-year history to help sustain and preserve the legacies of these valuable institutions. Through fundraising and donor development initiatives, $65 million has been raised to support more than 29,000 students attending HBCUs. Additionally, the Foundation has recommended internships, offered matching grant support, and career development to deserving students. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.