In the early hours of Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Day of Giving on March 19, Meredith Jeffers, Ph.D., executive director of University Strategy, and Martina Felderman, Ph.D., executive leadership coach and founder of Leadership Ascent, arrived at Movement Golden to take on the MSU Denver Vertical Mile Climb Challenge.
Inspired by the ‘Rise to the Future’ theme, Jeffers challenged herself and Felderman to each climb a vertical mile (5,280 feet) in a single day, raising $11,177 for the Roadrunner Grant, a decade-long program providing one-time assistance to MSU Denver students facing unexpected financial holds that prevent them from registering for the next semester.
“As a longtime faculty member (turned administrator), it’s really important to me that students who have made it so far get that extra support to ultimately make it to the finish line and cross the stage at Commencement,” said Jeffers.
Thanks to the generosity of 1,923 donors making 2,237 gifts to more than 120 projects, the tenth annual giving event raised a record-breaking $449,271.
Across a decade of Day of Giving, donors have made 12,064 gifts, raising $2.1 million to support MSU Denver students and programs.
The impact of these gifts cannot be understated. According to Matt Kring, director of college completion and success initiatives at MSU Denver, funding raised for the Roadrunner Grant by the climbing challenge’s “fun, inspiring hook” will allow “dozens of students to continue with their education and graduate, adding to the decade of success for this grant initiative.”
Jeffers is grateful and proud that many former students, including those who were recipients of the grant, made gifts to the climbing challenge. “That’s what this school and this community are all about to me – everyone working together to contribute the best they can toward helping our students be successful.”
Other fundraising highlights include:
Roadrunners Softball raised $17,566 to help upgrade their technology and improve the student-athlete experience. With more donors than any other Day of Giving project, they also won the Roadrunners Athletics Giving Challenge.
Club Archery raised $6,550 to keep the club growing by making the sport accessible to students and providing opportunities to participate in competitions, regardless of financial limitations.
The MSU Denver Debate Team raised $6,292, which will allow the program to host on-campus events, support student travel for competitions and more.
The MSU Denver Choir Club raised $3,884, supporting the group’s annual winter retreat, where singers prepare for the demanding musical work ahead of them.
Do you have a campus project you would like to fundraise for during next year’s Day of Giving? Calls for submissions will appear in the Early Bird beginning next January — mark your calendar!
Contact Bre Milnes, executive director of Advancement Communications and Annual Giving, for more information.
