From sign waving and cheerleaders at the flagship University of Hawai?i at 惭ā苍辞补 campus to a ping pong tournament at Community College and a pop-up market at the in Hilo, students, alumni, faculty and staff showed up on UH Giving Day to generate a record breaking $1.3 million from more than 1,580 gifts. With final totals still being reconciled, the results reflect a strong show of donor engagement across the UH’s 10-campus system.
A graduate of the Wai?ale?ale Project at Kaua?i CC, Isaiah Wilson dropped by the Giving Day table with a donation to the program that he described as helping him immensely throughout his 11 years pursuing his degree.
“It’s such a powerful program,” he said. “Now I’m giving back so others can have a chance of what I was given.”
‘Outpouring of aloha’
UH Giving Day funds will help support various scholarships, urgent flooding relief from the Kona-low storms, student success resources, faculty and research initiatives, and priority needs across all UH campuses.
“The outpouring of aloha we witnessed during UH Giving Day is truly humbling,” said Tim Dolan, UH Foundation CEO and VP of Advancement. “Every single gift is a powerful investment in our students, our research and the future of Hawai?i. We are deeply grateful to our entire UH ?ohana for coming together to make such a profound and immediate impact across all 10 campuses.”
University leadership emphasized how this statewide generosity will shape the institution’s future.
“Philanthropy plays a vital role in expanding opportunity and ensuring access to higher education across our state,” said UH President Wendy Hensel. “The generosity shown on Giving Day helps empower students across all 10 campuses and strengthens the university’s ability to serve Hawai?i now and in the years ahead.”
‘Feels like ?ohana’
Rachel Radona, a senior and UH 惭ā苍辞补 cheerleader added, “In Hawai?i we’re all about community, 濒ā丑耻颈 (the Hawaiian people), and about ?ohana (family) at the end of the day. We’re trying to embody what Hawai?i means to us, and it does feel like an ?ohana. It feels like when people are giving to us—that’s our family.”
Gifts made during UH Giving Day also count toward the historic campaign, the comprehensive $1 billion fundraising initiative supporting all 10 campuses of the UH system.
