Stand Up & Holler: Gator Nation
Giving Day Impact
Since 2019, Gators from around the world have united to uplift the University of Florida during Gator Nation Giving Day. Below are just a few of the ways your generosity is transforming lives and communities across the Gator Nation.
Your Gifts in Action.
You provide comfort to children and families treated
at
UF Health Shands Children's Hospital through programs like Child Life and Arts in Medicine. These
programs
aren't covered by insurance, but they play a critical role in helping young patients and
their
families cope and heal during their health care journeys.
You create hands-on learning for
students
like animal sciences senior Sydney Switzer, who interned as a wrangler in Estes Park,
Colorado,
thanks
to
VP Promise funds. Sydney plans to use the knowledge and customer service skills she gained to pursue a career in agricultural real estate after graduation.
You foster innovation across disciplines
through the
UF Genetics
Institute. Comprised
of more than 200 faculty from 51 academic
departments and nine colleges, breakthroughs happen when these fields work together to
address today's difficult scientific problems and challenges.
You unlock global learning experiences for students from all backgrounds through International Center scholarships. Second-year student McKenna Jacquin shared, “this scholarship helped me let go of the financial stress and fully immerse myself in my trip, allowing me to get the true, unhindered experience of living and learning in a new country. Thank you to all the donors!”
You supply nutritious food to thousands of Gators in
need
through the Alan and
Cathy Hitchcock
Field & Fork Pantry, a free resource that combats food insecurity by
offering non-perishable food & and personal items as well as fresh produce grown at the
Field & Fork Farm and Gardens.
You remove barriers to life-saving care for hundreds
of
companion animals treated at UF Veterinary Hospitals through the Pet Samaritan Fund
which helps families facing financial hardship cover their vet bills.
You are making a difference...
on campus and beyond.
During Giving Day 2023, nearly 260 donors gave more than $90,000 to the Levin College of Law's Greatest Needs fund. This fund provides unrestricted financial support for the law school's strategic priorities, including scholarships to current students like Andy Garcia (3L) and Mark Freeman (3L) as well as support for programming on contemporary legal issues and leadership development opportunities through student organizations like the Student Bar Association.
Dollars raised through Giving Day help UF Performing Arts (UFPA) inspire a new generation through performance. Each fall and spring semester, UFPA engages a renowned artist for a three- to five-day residency, visiting K-12 schools in Gainesville and surrounding communities. These visits provide young people with a new understanding and awareness of how to use the arts to find their voice through song, poetry or physical expression.
Thanks in part to the generous support of Giving Day donors, 150 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students were able to attend a Beyond120 career excursion in academic year 2022-23. During their trips, students met with hiring managers, heard from UF alumni and friends, participated in hands-on activities and more, enabling them to explore future career paths. David Solecki, class of 2023, said of the experience, “at a Beyond120 excursion to Macquarie Group Limited's Jacksonville office, I met great people, learned about the firm, and received an internship offer for their Financial Management Group. This would not have been possible without the help of Beyond120, which provided the opportunity to make connections in person.”
Thanks to the generosity of Giving Day donors, the College of Public Health and Health Professions was able to establish two new scholarships to support students studying physical and occupational therapy. These scholarships not only eased students’ financial burden but also empowered them to focus more on their academic pursuits, extracurricular activities and personal growth.
In 2023, funds raised during Giving Day for the Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory aided in the rehabilitation of multiple sea turtle patients including Rajah, who was released back to her ocean home in June 2023.
UF School of Art + Art History Associate Director Dr. Melissa Hyde goes above and beyond for graduate students, both in the classroom and behind the scenes. For Giving Day 2023, Dr. Hyde initiated a challenge gift to support Art History graduate students' travel and awards. These funds have helped students travel across the globe to discover how social and cultural changes have impacted art over the centuries.
Giving Day donors are taking UF Astronomy to new heights. Funds raised in 2023 helped launch new programs that are enhancing the student experience and fostering undergraduate research , such as PULSAR (Promoting Undergraduate Learning and Studies in Astrophysics Research), an astronomy club founded by student Grady Robbins (pictured above, second from left) and Astronomy Department Chair Elizabeth Lada. Giving Day funds enabled the department to sponsor PULSAR activities like an ice cream social where students connected with professors and scientists to learn about research opportunities, a symposium for students to hone their presentation skills and an internship panel discussion.
Thank you, Gators!
Your gifts are making stories like all of the above possible.
Be sure to check out our donor wall to be inspired by other Gators like you who chose to Stand Up & Holler for UF.
If you have questions or would like information for further
giving opportunities, please reach out to the
Annual Giving team at givingday@uff.ufl.edu.