Second annual Giving Day gives donors an opportunity to make a difference

Mar 12, 2024

The University of Toronto is once again calling on its global community of alumni, friends, faculty members and staff to come together and make a difference on its second annual Giving Day, March 26, 2024.

U of T’s first ever Giving Day was a great success last year, raising $1.2 million for equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives across the university. This year, with a similar focus on celebrating inclusive excellence, U of T aims to support even more students and researchers with the continued help of its generous donors.

The university will match any donations made up to $1,000, dollar-for-dollar, while the matching funds last. All Giving Day donations will support student scholarships and awards, infrastructure, student experience programs and research. The Giving Day site is open now for those who would like to donate in advance of the event or explore the various causes they can support.

It’s so heartening to see the U of T community come together again for this meaningful initiative. Together, we’re building upon last year’s success.

Claire Kennedy, co-chair of the Defy Gravity campaign, believes this initiative serves as a warm reminder of the incredible power of collaboration and collective action in creating positive change.

It’s so heartening to see the U of T community come together again for this meaningful initiative. Together, we’re building upon last year’s success.

“It’s so heartening to see the U of T community come together again for this meaningful initiative. Together, we’re building upon last year’s success,” she says. “Donor generosity will help even more students and researchers thrive.”

As part of Giving Day, U of T is showcasing the achievements of several talented members of its community who are acting as ambassadors for the event. These include Andrew Wiebe, a queer Michif scholar who is researching how to incorporate Indigenous and queer data into digital humanities projects ethically; Safiya Nur, vice-president of the U of T chapter of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance, who is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion; Darren Hamilton, a music professor who is developing practical opportunities that embrace diversity and promote sustainable change for the future of music curricula; and Jemy Joseph, a physician, speaker and consultant who has advocated for equitable access to health care and education.

“As a community of alumni and friends, faculty and staff, we have a responsibility to help our students and researchers thrive in an environment of belonging,” says David Palmer, U of T’s vice-president, advancement. “On the second annual U of T Giving Day, we will again ‘defy gravity’ by demonstrating our shared commitment to inclusive excellence.”

Mark your calendars for March 26 and join the global U of T community in helping students and researchers thrive.

Donate any time from now until March 26 to have your gift matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000.

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