These are just some examples of how听One Day for DU听鈥 the University鈥檚 annual initiative to support and build awareness for meaningful causes spanning the entire institution 鈥 benefited students, faculty, staff and the DU community in 2017.
鈥淭he impact of One Day for DU goes well beyond the numbers,鈥 says Mike Garvey, assistant director for annual giving. 鈥淓very contribution goes to benefit programs, internships, grants and partnerships that not only make a difference in the education of our students, but have a large impact on our community.鈥
Last year, about 2,200 donors helped raise more than $400,000 for 28 featured crowdfunding projects and other donor-specified impact areas. For today鈥檚 24-hour crowdfunding effort, the University has featured 32 meaningful causes for donors to support. The projects are aligned with the University鈥檚 strategic plan,听.
All the projects fall under nine general categories:
- Arts
- Athletics & Recreation
- Business & Entrepreneurship
- Children & Families
- Environment & Health
- Leadership
- One DU Initiatives
- Student Resources & Support
- Veteran Support
鈥淲e have a very comprehensive list of projects that allows people to support projects or causes that are the most meaningful to them,鈥 Garvey says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 gratifying to know that everyone who is part of the DU community 鈥 alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff 鈥 can make a difference with programs that are impacting our world.鈥
One such program is听. Created by Galena Rhoades, a research associate professor in the Department of Psychology, MotherWise is a six-week program that focuses on an expecting or new mother鈥檚 relationships and helps her think through what she wants those relationships to look like after the baby鈥檚 arrival. The program is also part of a research study to determine if it can help improve birth outcomes, reduce maternal stress and improve long-term family stability and the quality of family relationships. Since starting in 2016, MotherWise has helped more than 330 mothers in the Denver area.
Another program seeking crowdfunding is the Musical Explorers Program through the听. The pilot program will help Denver youngsters in kindergarten through second-grade explore a diverse range of musical genres found in their neighborhoods.
To find out more about all 32 One Day for DU programs and to learn how you can make an impact, please click听here.
