Cumberlands Give Day raises $309K for students and campus community

Generous donors raised $309,157 to support student scholarships and programs for University of the Cumberlands’ annual Give Day.

Cumberlands Give Day 2022 began the morning of November 1 and concluded on November 2. Donations toward this year’s “One Big Give” could be made to the university in general or go toward specific academic departments, scholarship and workshop funds, ministries and service programs, or athletic teams. At the campaign’s conclusion, 1,494 generous donors exceeded the total campaign goal of $250,000, bringing in more than $309,000 to benefit students in their academics, scholarship and work-study opportunities, athletics, and ministry outreach.

Bill Stohlmann, director of the Office of Development at Cumberlands, said, “I am just so thankful to everybody who donated on One Big Give. The support given to this campaign will touch every corner of campus and directly benefit thousands of students and community members. All the credit goes to the alumni, coaches, faculty, staff, and students who worked so hard to make this day possible. Without them none of this would have been possible.”

Chris Kraftick, athletic director at Cumberlands, added, “Another successful Give Day campaign not only for athletics but for the entire institution. I appreciate our coach's and student-athletes hard work. It’s a great way to show gratitude for all we are blessed with at Cumberlands.”

Donors included alumni, parents, faculty and staff, friends of the university, and even a small percentage of students. Most donations came from Kentucky, though many came from Tennessee and Ohio, and a couple of donors gave from as far away as the Netherlands and Sweden. Regarding athletics, men’s wrestling brought in the most funding and softball had the highest number of donors.

Competitions and challenges were held throughout the Give Day campaign. The athletic teams competed against each other for the most dollars raised and gifts donated. Meanwhile, a longtime friend of the university-sponsored several matching challenges to academic departments, scholarships, and campus ministries.

Prizes were awarded to donors who met certain criteria, such as living closest to campus, living farthest away from campus, youngest alumnus, oldest alumnus, largest gift for a first-time donor, and more.

Cumberlands Give Day will be back in Fall 2023.

Though the 2022 Cumberlands Give Day is officially over, anyone who wants to support students at Cumberlands can still give at www.ucumberlands.edu/give2uc.