Nearly 5,000 donors helped make 2022 Giving Week at USF an astounding success and will help support student services and campus life in 2022-2023.
What is USF Giving Week?
The 2022 Giving Week at the University of South Florida saw a record number of donors — nearly 5,000 — to aid in funding for student projects, charity organizations, academics, and athletic programs across all three USF campuses. Giving Week is an annual opportunity for alumni to give back to their USF home, and to help students succeed in both academics and their personal journeys on campus.
Related story: USF Receives $5 million from Jeff and Penny Vinik for Stadium
From April 4 to 8, over 4,900 donors came together to give record-breaking contributions that doubled the university’s previous record. Nearly 10% of donors were first-time participants in Giving Week, while others were alumni who have been dedicated to USF’s success for years. Some projects that were able to receive funding this year included:
- The USF HerdFunder projects, which support university needs such as library funding, growth of academic wings across campus, and student life programs.
- The “Take PRIDE in Our Students” project, a challenge project sponsored by ’79, USF alumnus and associate professor in the Morsani College of Medicine, Dr. Ronald Kennedy. Once the goal of 25 donors was reached, Kennedy’s challenge gift was unlocked, providing $5,000 to scholarships supporting LGBTQ+ students and their allies.
- The Ybor Youth Clinic project was sponsored by Dr. Patricia Emmanuel, M.D., USF professor and chair for the Morsani College of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. Her challenge gift of $25,000 was unlocked once the project reached its goal of 50 donors.
- The Diane (Howarth) and Michael Brunson Health Sciences Scholarship were endowed by Michael Brunson with a gift of $25,000 to endow once his challenge of 1,000 donors was reached.
- Jeff and Penny Vinik gave $5 million to help bring the on-campus stadium project closer to reality. Their giving was inspired by a $5 million gift from Carol and Frank Morsani made toward the same effort last month.
- The Stampede for Women project reached its 50-donor goal, raising more than $7,000 to support student scholarships and career development opportunities. The Bulls will begin playing women’s lacrosse in 2023 and beach volleyball in 2024.
USF President Rhea Law thanked donors and project sponsors for the week, stating:
“The generosity of our alumni, friends, faculty and staff is truly humbling. This groundswell of support underscores just how much our community values our students and understands the impact they have on Tampa Bay and beyond.”
USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman added, “The Tampa Bay community recognizes the limitless potential of our students, empowering them to succeed academically and professionally. We are inspired by the thousands who gave their time and their treasure during Giving Week this year. Every single supporter is making a positive impact on our Bulls.”
In addition to monetary gifts to academic areas and WUSF, supporters donated over 350 items to the Feed-A-Bull “Stock the Pantry” project. Included in the donations was fresh produce from the Judy Genshaft Honors College Community Garden on the Tampa campus. A HerdFunder project aimed at maintaining the community garden met its goal, thanks to 85 donors. All produce from the community garden is donated to the Feed-A-Bull Food Pantry and Feeding Tampa Bay throughout the year.
In total, Giving Week donors supported 198 funds at the university. Many HerdFunder projects continue to accept donations.
