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The seventh annual Gator Give Day is scheduled for Thursday, April 22, this year as Allegheny alumni and friends from around the world are encouraged to come together to celebrate the College’s success, show support for the institution, and join in a day of camaraderie with classmates.

The fundraising event, which goes until midnight (EDT), has a participation goal of 2,021 donations, in honor of the graduating Class of 2021.

This year’s theme for the day is “Together” and the many ways members of the Allegheny community can join forces for the benefit of current Gators.

“I don’t think I’m alone when I say how this last year has made me especially reflective about the enormous role of community and connection in my life,” said Sara Pineo, senior director of Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement. “Gator Give Day has become such a powerful way for our community to gather together — even virtually — to show our students and their families how committed we are to their success. And that we stand with them. It’s humbling to be a part of it and witness just how huge Gator hearts are.”

Gator Give Day has had a major impact on student success at Allegheny. Since the annual day of giving was started six years ago, more than $3.5 million in gifts and unlocked matching gifts have been donated on Gator Give Day.

This year, the College is launching a new platform for Gator Give Day that will allow for some new opportunities for alumni and donors. These include the addition of new options for designating gifts as well as a broader list of ways donors can give, from Venmo to Apple Pay to bank transfers or credit cards, Pineo said. Also, the college is introducing the ability to make a bigger impact by allowing donors to create their own matches and challenges to spur on participation from classmates or encourage support for a specific area of campus, she added.

In addition, the College is planning a virtual Gator Give Day “after party” the following day, Friday, April 23, that will give Gator Give Day donors the chance to connect with some beloved Allegheny legends, hear some of their stories and share some memories. These Gator Chats will include Professor Emeritus and College Historian Jonathan Helmreich; Professor Emeritus of Biology Glen Wurst; Modern and Classical Languages Instructor Nancy Newton Smith ’74; Professor Emeritus Ward Jamison and Vicki Jamison of the Music Department, and Yvonne Longstreth of Parkhurst Dining Services.

On Gator Give Day itself, participants will be able to watch online as special guests appear to thank donors. Allegheny President Hilary L. Link and Provost and Dean of the College Ron Cole will make appearances, as will other members of the college’s staff, during the live feed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Other guests will include many varsity head coaches, from Ashley Hughes ’08 of women’s lacrosse to Rich Nagy of football to Kate Costanzo of women’s basketball, to name just a few. Also, faculty members, including Rich Bowden and Eric Pallant of the Environmental Science and Sustainability Department, Ishita Sinha Roy and Michael Mehler of the Communication, Film and Theatre Department, and Alice Deckert and Matt Betush ’06 of the Chemistry Department, will join.

The Allegheny College Board of Trustees has generously offered a special match to help reach the goal of 2,021 gifts. When individuals participate with a Gator Give Day donation, no matter the size, the board has pledged to make an additional $100 contribution for each of the first 2,021 donors — for a total of $202,100 — to support the greatest needs of the college. Additionally, there will be other matches. For instance, Trustee Tom Sadvary ’75 will be matching gifts made to support Career Education and internships, up to a total of $5,000. Also, thanks to Trustee Kevin ’84 and Lisa Fiedor ’84 Baird, athletics teams will have the chance to compete for additional funding for their programs. And up to a total of $10,000 in donations supporting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives will be matched by Trustee Chris Scott Nelson ’73.

Gifts made before April 22 can be counted toward the tally with a notation that donors would like their gifts to be included in Gator Give Day results. Support Allegheny’s current students by clicking here.