New to this year’s event is the Falcon Day of Giving Livestream! Fairmont State will begin the livestream at midnight on Thursday, February 29 as President Davis goes live to kick off the Day of Giving. Throughout the day there will be live interviews from faculty, staff, coaches, and students, performances, and updates live from campus. You can tune into the live stream on the Falcon Day of Giving website at https://falconsgive.fsufoundation.org or on Fairmont State’s Facebook and Instagram feeds @fairmontstate.
Day of Giving shines a spotlight on giving at Fairmont State and creates a sense of excitement around collective philanthropy. There are special events planned leading up to and during each Day of Giving to encourage participation from all segments of the University and the greater Fairmont community – from alumni and friends to students and faculty. The Day of Giving dunk tank and punch board are both returning this year and are designed to engage those passing through the Falcon Center on their way to class or work throughout the day. Several members of faculty and staff will be courageously hopping in the dunk tank to raise funds for the areas and programs they are so passionate about, including Fairmont State University President Dr. Mike Davis. This year, each athletic team with at least 40 individual donors during Day of Giving gets to toss their coach in the pool, encouraging student-athletes to take part in raising funds for their programs. “Since 2019, the Falcon Day of Giving has raised over $1.2 million to support a variety of scholarships as well as programmatic support for Fairmont State University students to realize their endless potential,” says Fairmont State Foundation President Dr. Anne Bolyard. “During this 24-hour giving event, we invite the friends and alumni of Fairmont State University to continue this legacy of support to our current and future Falcons.” In the years since the first event, support and participation continues to grow. Each year, a small group of donors generously agree to match gifts to various scholarships, programs, teams, and colleges. When individual donors select a qualifying area to support on Day of Giving, these matches kick in, doubling or even tripling the impact of a single gift. Matches are a critical component of the overall goal. William Laughlin and his wife Lois Muto Laughlin, an alumna of Fairmont State, are retired faculty members and have once again pledged $12,500 in matching gifts for Fairmont State’s five academic colleges, the Colleges of Nursing, Business and Aviation, Science and Technology, Liberal Arts, and Education Health and Human Performance. The Laughlin’s are also sponsoring The Rise and Shine Challenge for Athletics. Starting at 4 a.m. there is $2,500 in matching gifts up for grabs to all athletic teams. The matching dollars will be available on a first come first serve basis. University President Dr. Mike Davis is sponsoring several matches and a donor challenge. This year, President Davis will donate $1 to the Falcon Fund for every donor that makes a gift for Falcon Day of Giving to any participating area. The Falcon Fund is for the university’s greatest needs and funds expenses such as scholarships, travel opportunities, classroom and lab equipment, and emergency aid. Additional matches and challenges include: - Student Veterans Organization Dollar for Dollar Match - Gary K. and Barbara Bennett will match gifts to the Student Veterans Organization up to $5,000. - The Lunch Rush Challenge - The area receiving gifts from the most donors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will earn an additional $1,000 from Fairmont State Foundation President Anne Bolyard. - Praxis Test Dollar for Dollar Match - An anonymous donor will match gifts to the Praxis Test initiative for education students, dollar for dollar up to $4,000. - Athletics Power Hour Match - At 2 p.m. a $2,500 match will be unlocked for athletics. Jennifer and Scott Kinty will be matching gifts made to any athletic team starting at 2 p.m., dollar for dollar up to $2,500. All matches and challenges for the day can be found by visiting https://falconsgive.fsufoundation.org/prizes. The Falcon Day of Giving is an opportunity for the Fairmont State community to support the areas that matter most to them. Whether it is a scholarship fund, athletic team, student organization, academic department, the Academy for the Arts, or the Falcon Marching Band there are numerous opportunities to make an impact with your support. You can make your gift by visiting https://falconsgive.fsufoundation.org, by calling 304-534-8786, or by visiting the Fairmont State Foundation located in The Erickson Alumni Center at 1300 Locust Avenue. The Fairmont State University School of Nursing received a $40,000 grant from the Milan Puskar Foundation to support nursing students who will provide clinics and COVID-19 health and safety kits for the homeless population in Marion and Harrison Counties.
“One of the major directives that Milan Puskar wished to address through the Milan Puskar Foundation is the growing issue of homelessness in West Virginia,” said Kyle Pratt, the foundation’s President. “The grant to the Nursing Homeless Outreach Program will help provide basic healthcare needs to the homeless and education to nursing students and RNs on how to better understand the challenges that such individuals face in order to improve the healthcare they receive.” Fairmont State nursing students will provide services to homeless individuals in both Marion and Harrison Counties. Pratt said the Milan Puskar Foundation board members hope that the grant to Fairmont State University will result in significant personal connection and interaction with homeless individuals that improves their lives by helping to meet some basic healthcare needs. “We also hope that the educational sessions for the nursing students and RNs that treat the homeless and provide awareness on COVID, including mask use and care, handwashing, and an array of other imperative information, will be valuable training that results in other meaningful and life-changing impacts,” Pratt said. Pratt said the goals that Fairmont State University presented were thorough, measurable, and the Milan Puskar Foundation believes that this grant will assist the University in improving the lives of homeless individuals in the North Central West Virginia region. “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide our students with a comprehensive nursing education while assisting those in need within our local communities,” said Laura Clayton, Fairmont State School of Nursing Dean. “This project will allow us to further serve our mission to improve the health of West Virginia and the global community through a commitment to excellence and innovation in teaching, scholarship and service.” The Milan Puskar Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in West Virginia. This grant not only provides funding for the basic healthcare needs of the homeless in the region but also extends first-hand learning experience to existing and future healthcare workers to further improve such care. The Milan Puskar Foundation believes this grant encapsulates the legacy of a man who worked tirelessly throughout his life to enrich the lives of countless individuals, including the homeless. “Experiential learning is the hallmark of a Fairmont State education,” Mirta M. Martin, president of Fairmont State University, said. “This generous gift will not only give our students real-world opportunities to apply classroom knowledge, but it also gives them the chance to do what Fairmont State does best: Change lives. With the help of this grant, the Nursing Homeless Outreach Program will have an immeasurable impact on the lives of so many in our community.” This gift was made through the Fairmont State Foundation Inc., the non-profit organization that solicits and administers private donations on behalf of the Fairmont State University. Established in 1960, the Fairmont State Foundation identifies, establishes and cultivates meaningful relationships with Fairmont State alumni and friends to further the mission and purpose of Fairmont State University. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization guided by a board of directors to steward contributions from our donors and maximize the impact of financial support for the students, faculty and staff of the University. For more information about our organization and ways that you can provide support, visit www.fsufoundation.org or call 304.534.8786. |
