Salisbury University
2022
GIVING DAY
IMPACT REPORT
SALISBURY UNIVERSITY'S MOST SUCCESSFUL GIVING DAY IN HISTORY.
On April 5, 2022, alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and friends came together to support and celebrate the schools, programs, and causes that mean the most to them.
BY THE NUMBERS
2,588
UNIQUE DONORS
257
CAMPUS CAUSES SUPPORTED
41
DONOR STATES
3
DONOR COUNTRIES
STUDENT IMPACT TESTIMONIALS
Our group plans to buy new soccer balls with the funds raised on Giving Day! We appreciate this so much!
SU Women's Club Soccer
This year, and for a few to come, the most pressing need is to replace our classroom set of clinical grade microscopes (18 in all!)... Two of these new microscopes have arrived and we let the students have the fun of opening the boxes! Thank you!
Medical Laboratory Science
Theatre & Dance Program
Your support will help our student groups get back to planning events, attending conferences and inviting guests back to campus!
The Department of Communication
Thank you for supporting the Marketing Excellence Club at Salisbury University! Your generosity helps provide opportunities for the club to engage students of all majors across campus through events, educational trips, and other career-development avenues.
Marketing Excellence Club
Women's Soccer
2022 Giving Day Results by Area
Breakdown of amounts raised by all campus areas
HOW HOUSING & RESIDENCE LIFE ALUMNI SAVED A CAMP TRADITION
2022-2023 CAMP PECOMETH
A 3-day and 2-night outdoor ropes course experience, Camp Pecometh is an honored tradition for those in the Housing & Residence Life (HRL) family at Salisbury University. Formerly known as Outward Bound, the experience challenges all staff to explore outside their comfort zone and push past what they feel they can accomplish.
Unfortunately, in an effort to weather the financial storm the COVID-19 pandemic created, HRL leaders were forced to consider suspending the Camp Pecometh program despite the overwhelming benefit it provided.
Utilizing his network of alumni, Gutoskey teamed up with Jenny M’99 and Jeff Orzolek, former SU residence assistants, to challenge supporters to make Camp Pecometh a reality for another year. The Orzoleks offered a $1,000 challenge gift to Residence Life if they could reach 50 donors on SU’s Giving Day.
In an email to alumni and friends, Gutoskey enthusiastically shared this opportunity. He encouraged his HRL family to reflect on their Outward Bound or Camp Pecometh experience with ResLife. “How did that experience shape you as a person? Who would you be today if you weren’t provided an opportunity to explore your personal boundaries through this experience?” Gutoskey asked.
With a passionate request and a time-sensitive challenge, HRL alumni went to work on Giving Day sharing the importance of the program and making their gifts in support of their past experience.
When the clock struck midnight on SU’s Giving Day, 60 donors had raised over $6,000 including matching funds, securing the Camp Pecometh tradition for another year. In August 2022, Gutoskey shared photos of the 2022-2023 Camp Pecometh participants on Facebook and said “Thank you to all the [alumni] who donated during Giving Day! Your commitment to SU Res Life keeps this tradition rolling!”
Alumni comments and responses included:
- “My first experience in ResLife. Still the best decision I made.”
- “Love it! Some of my best memories from Salisbury.”
- “Sure miss running those program at Pecometh for SU ResLife. So glad you guys are still having that experience.
- “…[I] cherish the memories of RA camp”
- “Such a wonderful experience and great memories for these students!”
At the end of his Giving Day request in April, Gutoskey promised alumni that any funds raised would subsidize Camp Pecometh for their 2022-2023 Residence Life family. Clearly, his word choice was perfect. What an incredibly supportive family they are!
A Team Effort:
How SU's Football Program Raised $30,000
Since 1972, thousands of student-athletes, coaches, and fans have celebrated the success of Salisbury University’s football program. The 2022 season marks 50 years of nail-biting victories, heartbreaking losses, and the making of life-long friendships.
SU’s enduring football program currently has several dedicated coaches, working around the clock to prepare the team, and communicate efficiently on the sidelines each game. In an effort to improve the overall communication of the coaches, head football coach Sherman Wood desired to purchase state-of-the-art headsets for all members of the staff this season.
The new model of headset offers advanced features and are much more cutting-edge than the previous set. A purchase of this magnitude would require an incredibly supportive group of alumni to get behind the effort.
Reaching out to his network of alumni and football supporters, Coach Wood teamed up with several generous donors to challenge fans to make the new headsets a reality for the fall football season. Mike Scarborough ‘76, Larry Holmes ‘01, Pat Brannan ‘02, and John and Mary Dyson Bohanan ‘80 all agreed to make significant commitments to the effort. Together, this group would match all gifts to the football program on SU’s Giving Day up to $12,000 total.
With an incredibly generous challenge gift behind them, football players, coaches, parents, and alumni went to work on April 5, sharing the importance of the program and making their gifts in support of an enhanced student-athlete experience. When all was said and done, 189 donors had raised over $33,000 on SU’s Giving Day including matching funds, therein securing the upgraded headsets for the fall semester.
In the summer of 2022, the headsets arrived to the joy of the coaching staff. “These sets will improve communication (not only for the coaches, but players as well) during practice scrimmages and games,” Head Coach Sherman Wood said. “Thus far, we are pleased and really happy that we are able to meet the needs of our student-athletes and the entire football program.”
Not only can Sea Gull football fans celebrate 50 years of a successful program this year, but they can also celebrate many years of providing enhanced funding to give Sea Gulls the best football experience possible.
FAQ
WHEN WILL GIVING DAY FUNDS BE AVAILABLE?
This fall! All Giving Day funds are being transferred to campus areas and faculty, staff, and students will soon begin funding student opportunities.
WHO PROVIDES MATCHING GIFTS AND CHALLENGE FUNDS?
Challenge funds are made possible by generous alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the University.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE FUNDS RAISED DO SU CAUSES RECEIVE?
100% of all funds raised!
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
Follow @sualumni on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to receive updates on SU's Giving Day. Sign-up to be an ambassador and share information as it becomes available.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
Please contact Michelle Pryor, Director of Annual Giving, at mrpryor@salisbury.edu.
SAVE THE DATE
APRIL 4, 2023
SU'S SEVENTH GIVING DAY
Salisbury University Annual Giving
1120 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21801
P: (410) 548-2074
E: giving@salisbury.edu