FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Fresno State’s first-ever Day of Giving campaign is gearing up for 24 hours of online giving action.
The D.O.G. Campaign begins tonight (Wednesday, November 1st) at Midnight.
This one-day effort, with the theme “Time to Feed the D.O.G.,” encourages alumni, friends, faculty, staff, parents and students to make a donation to one of Fresno State’s schools and colleges or the program of their choice during the midnight-to-midnight campaign on November 2nd.
The campaign is trending on social media, with over 100,000 unique visitors on Facebook in a video made last week teasing the date and the big announcement.
Vice President of University Advancement Paula Castadio says you go to dayofgiving.fresno state.edu.
Fresno state says money raised will go to scholarships, research, internship programs and improved learning spaces for students.
On Thursday, the University hosts campus and community spirit events like a bowling tournament, a Victor E. Bulldog III appearance, a concert and a crazy socks contest.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
Most of these campus partners have events planned during the campaign:
- Craig School Pajama Pre-Party — One of the first events is a pajama party movie night hosted by the Craig School of Business at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, leading up to the start of the online giving at midnight when Dean Robert Harper will join Craig School scholars to make a personal appeal for donations. Victor E. III is scheduled 9:30-1030 p.m.
- Rise Together — On Thursday, from 5-7 a.m., the University’s official kickoff will include the lighting of the Save Mart Center’s Shehady Tower in Bulldog red at 5 a.m. with live media interviews featuring University President Joseph I. Castro, Bulldog coaches and other officials who will participate on site near Shaw and Chestnut avenues during a mini-rally at that time. Community members are invited to wear red on the Day of Giving to celebrate Bulldog pride and community engagement.
- Student Rally — From 5 to 9 a.m., student mini-rallies at select intersections surrounding the campus will feature students holding signs expressing Fresno State pride along with their gratitude for the community’s support.
- Fresno State athletics will make a strong showing at the kickoff led by Director of Athletics Jim Bartko. Several coaches and their teams will join him including softball coach Linda Garza, baseball coach Mike Batesole, women’s tennis coach Ryan Stotland, wrestling coach Troy Steiner and men’s basketball coach Rodney Terry.
- Campus Bite — Faculty, staff and students will be invited to “Feed the D.O.G.,” the campaign’s lunchtime fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Memorial Court near the Kennel Bookstore. Community food trucks, music, selfie photo opportunities, games and thank you note-signing by students will reinforce a campus culture of philanthropy.
- Overcoming Barriers — The Lyles College of Engineering will present an inflatables obstacle course from 1 to 3 p.m. for students to compete, promoting that barriers to giving can be overcome. The college will also unveil a new dog house built for live mascot Victor E. III by construction management students. It stands 3 feet wide by 5 feet long and is 7 feet tall. The entrance is large enough for Victor E. III and students to run through.
- Thank you card signing — From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology invites students to sign thank you cards in the Agricultural Education building quad, and the Kremen School of Education and Human Development invites students to do the same from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Kremen building lobby.
- The Arts and Humanities of Giving — Several events are planned throughout the Day of Giving such as a Día de los Muertos altar at the Speakers Platform (north of Madden Library) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; faculty, staff, students and supporters will gather at noon for a big group photo on the amphitheatre lawn; a concert “Celebrating 30 Years of Clarinet at Fresno State” and featuring guest artist Mark Nuccio at 12:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall; the Laureate Lab in the Madden Library opens at 4 p.m. so visitors can unleash their creativity on Day of Giving; an ArtHop reception for “Unsung Heroes: Do You Know Who I Am?” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.at the M Street Graduate Studio downtown; a Fresno Poets’ Association reading featuring Shawn Wen will be at 7 p.m. in the Alice Peters Auditorium (Peters Business building); and University Theatre presents “Native Son” at 7:30 p.m. in the Dennis and Cheryl Woods Theatre in the Speech Arts building.
- “Be Bowl’d Extravaganza” — The Day of Giving events on campus conclude from 7 to 11 p.m. with the “Be Bowl’d Extravaganza” D.O.G bowling tournament featuring 16 teams of students and staff bowling for the Vice President’s Trophy. And a new Dr. Lamas’ Crazy Socks Challenge will also be held. Food will be available at the snack bar until 9 p.m. and family and friends are welcome.
The Fresno State Day of Giving website will feature live leaderboards and trackers updating the money raised for the entire campus throughout the day at: dayofgiving.fresnostate.edu leading up to the midnight conclusion.
