On Thursday, April 7, UCSB Give Day united alumni, students, staff, faculty, and families around their campus connections and experiences. Collectively, the UC Santa Barbara community raised over $6 million through over 1,700 gifts, making Give Day 2022 our most successful yet.
On campus, the student-run philanthropy organization UCSB First handed out t-shirts and stickers. Students were proud to represent UC Santa Barbara. Engaging students brings awareness to the impact of philanthropy on campus and demonstrates ways that they can stay involved when they join the alumni community.
“Give Day, to me, is an opportunity for alumni, parents, and others related to campus to give back to the community,” said Drew Hinman ’22. “Knowing that I have the support of the Gaucho community behind me makes me feel very confident in myself and helps me feel more at ease.”
Over half of Give Day donors were alumni eager to provide students with the experiences they enjoyed. Desi Speh ’99 seized the opportunity to provide a challenge gift on Give Day to inspire more support for first-generation students.
“Give Day is cool because it’s this consolidated effort in which everyone gets involved with the things they’re most passionate about,” said Desi. “It’s that one day where you can learn about all the university’s programs and initiatives at once. I appreciated the chance to focus on something that meant so much to all of us. When you compound everyone’s efforts in one day, it’s so impactful.”
Students, staff, faculty, alumni, families, and friends were eager to reconnect and share their support of UC Santa Barbara during this online event. Gifts poured in from 38 states and nine countries. Donors supported 155 campus funds that represent the breadth and depth of the UC Santa Barbara experience.
“I feel really great knowing that alumni are supporting the Gaucho community, especially because alumni giving means so much for the programs that I use on campus, like CLAS, the Women’s Center, and the Education Abroad Program,” said Rachel Kim ’25.
Many meaningful moments, small and large, add up to the UC Santa Barbara experience. Each UCSB Give Day gift helps make these moments happen for our scholars.
“I just have the fondest memories of UC Santa Barbara and I’m so proud of the school,” said Jordan Kaplan ’83, whose matching gifts inspired nearly 300 additional donations. “Alumni experienced all UC Santa Barbara has to offer because people who had already graduated rose up in their industries and created opportunities. Passing it on is how you build an institution like this.”