Be a Part of #BCGivingDay
Bluefield College will host its annual Giving Day, Thursday, April 25, in an effort to raise as much money as possible for student scholarships.
“BC Giving Day is the one day each year that we encourage all alumni to give back to their alma mater to show their love, appreciation, and support,” said BC’s Josh Grubb, director of development and alumni affairs.
On this particular day, the college uses social media and other social networks to create a wave of support and ultimately donations from alumni and friends to Bluefield College. The gifts go to the BC Fund, which is a vital source for financial aid, according to alumni Sarah Pauley and Dagoberto Acevedo who said without it they would have had trouble paying for college.
“I cannot express in words how meaningful my education at Bluefield College was and how much it shaped me academically, professionally, and spiritually,” said Acevedo, a 2018 BC graduate. “I owe my personal success to generous donors who allowed me to pave my own journey. (They) opened doors for me.”
Pauley, another 2018 BC graduate who benefitted from the BC Fund and BC Giving Day, agreed.
“Bluefield College opened doors for me that I never saw possible,” she said. “As a biology major, I had the opportunity to learn from world-class instructors, like Dr. Emily Lambert. My goal is to attend graduate school and become an optometrist; Bluefield College has prepared me for this next step.”
One way to participate in BC Giving Day, which is on the same day as BC’s annual Mud Pig Day, is through the “Slide Challenge.” People who donate $5 or more online will be given the opportunity to vote for a Bluefield College employee to go down the Mud Pig Day slide. This year’s choices are Mike White, Michele White, Dr. Marshall Flowers, Dr. Kim Farmer, Richard Morgan, Sherelle Morgan, and Dr. Tom Brewster. At the end of the day, the employee with the most votes/gifts must go down the Mud Pig Day slide.
Donors can also double the amount of their gift through other BC Giving Day challenges. Alumnus Mike (’96) Harris and his wife, Heather, will match gifts dollar for dollar for the first 50 donors. In addition, alumnus David Bailey (’60) and his wife, Judy, an honorary alumna, will match the first $2,000 given, while alumnus Garry Jones (’74) and his wife, Isis, will match every dollar given up to $10,000.
Bailey and fellow alumnus Jack Marcom (’62) have also donated two tickets to a Major League Baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals in Washington, DC, on Friday, May 17. The first 25 donors to give $50 or more will be entered into a drawing for the two tickets to the game. BC Giving Day and Mud Pig Day will also feature a live broadcast on social media.
“If students see Devon Jackson (the master of ceremony for BC Giving Day), they should remember that the feed is live and it is a great opportunity to say hello to the generous alumni who are tuned in and tell them how much you appreciate their support,” Grubb said. “Without support of the BC Fund, scholarships wouldn’t exist.”
For more information on BC Giving Day or to follow the day’s activities, visit bluefield.edu/bcgivingday or BC’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.