Luther College is celebrating the success of its sixth annual Giving Day after exceeding its $1 million goal. Each year, Luther works to raise money for the Luther Fund with the proceeds directly supporting students.
"My deepest gratitude goes to the many people who showed through their gifts that Luther College is worth an investment," said President Jenifer K. Ward. "We invest where we love, where we see hope, and where we see a future. Through your stewardship of this college, as evidenced by your generosity, you have given a great boost to a community that has put one foot in front of the other over a year of caring about education and each other, even while trudging across challenging terrain."
In total, Luther raised a record-setting preliminary amount of $1,195,265 from more than 2,263 gifts.
Donations to the Luther Fund have a hand in just about everything students need: scholarships and financial aid, field study trips, music tours, student organizations, volunteer opportunities in the community, and more. In 2020, and now into 2021, the Luther Fund has also been utilized to maintain COVID protocols.
“Giving Day is one of the moments that shines a light on how deeply people care about the Luther experience and our students,” said Stephen Sporer, vice president for development. “To see alumni, friends, faculty, staff, family members and students all participating in this celebratory day is inspiring.”
To spread awareness about Giving Day on campus, Luther’s development team handed out the famously delicious Norse cookies to students, and one interaction sticks out to Sporer.
“As a young student happily helped herself to a cookie, she paused, then shared, 'My mom gave this morning. She knows I'm having a great experience here.' That is why days like Giving Days exist - to come together for a brief moment as a great community to celebrate and support the student experience.”
Luther College is home to more than 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.
