Overwhelming Support Leads to Historic UMassGives 2024
More than 10,000 ambassadors came together on April 24 and 25 to inspire great achievement and happiness across UMass Amherst through UMassGives 2024. This is the first time the university has surpassed the 10,000 gift mark for this event.
Together, alumni, parents, students, staff, and friends made this year the most successful UMassGives ever, with more than $2.3 million in donations to the departments, student groups, academic centers, and programs that mean the most to them.
Donors from 34 countries and 48 states ensured that our students, no matter their major, academic interest, or co-curricular involvement, will continue to benefit from an exceptional experience at the state’s flagship campus.
Thanks to UMassGives Power Hours, groups like the Student Alumni Association, the Minuteman Marching Band, the Daily Collegian, the Stonewall Center, men’s and women’s rowing, and Zoola—UMass Amherst’s women’s and nonbinary ultimate frisbee team—collected bonus money for attracting the most donors during each designated hour.
There are just over 25 members of Zoola, but the group has been recognized by the university for its leadership and its efforts during past UMassGives campaigns, especially during Power Hours.
Zoola won their Power Hour two years ago and placed second in their Power Hour last year. All eyes were on them this year, and they placed second to the same group as last year. Undeterred by their second-place finish, the team is grateful for the donations they received, which will make a massive difference for the team.
“Zoola’s budget is a fair amount smaller for next year, so everything we fundraised during UMassGives is going to be especially important,” said Morgan Banta-Ryan ’24, one of Zoola’s student leaders. In total, Zoola raised $5,527 from 224 gifts.
Zoola uses the funds earned during UMassGives to travel to tournaments. They typically fly to at least one game each year to play higher-level teams and teams in more temperate climates. They also use the funds to purchase equipment for the team and provide financial assistance to any of their athletes needing support.
In addition to the Power Hours, alumni from the 1960s through the 2010s made a splash by offering challenges and matching donations ranging from $1,000 to $500,000 to motivate increased giving. These completed challenges will translate into more funding for Isenberg scholarships, experiential learning in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences, the SBS in DC program in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Education, the Meal Plan Assistance Fund and so much more!
In addition, on the eve of his inauguration, Chancellor Javier Reyes and his wife Maritza pledged to establish a new $25,000 endowed scholarship for UMass Women into Leadership, based on more than $10,000 in gifts made to the group during UMassGives.
UMass Amherst students and faculty are grateful for all those who participated this year. Whether you supported scholarships, athletics programs, internships and undergraduate research opportunities, performance groups, or public service, you made a real difference at UMass Amherst.
Check out more results from UMassGives 2024 at umassgives.org.
