Xavier University to Hold its Third Annual "Give. Love. Xavier Day" to Raise Funds for Scholarships

HBCU Xavier University of Louisiana will hold its third annual Give. Love. Xavier Day – an online, social media-driven fundraising event – from 12:00 a.m. to midnight, June 2nd.
The event encourages alumni and friends to come together for one day to show their support for the University with financial contributions. Participants are encouraged to post about the event via social networks (such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) to spread the excitement and encourage their friends and followers to give. Conversations also are encouraged by sharing the hashtag #GLXU15, connecting to @XULAalumni website, and visiting http://www.xula.edu/givelove to pledge and see real-time results.
This year’s theme is, “Thank You, Dr. Francis”, in honor of retiring XU President Dr. Norman Francis.

Dr. Kenneth St. Charles, XU Vice President for Institutional Advancement, said all gifts made online that day go directly to the Annual Fund, which supports scholarships and other important University programs. The donor goal for this year’s campaign is 2,470 individuals.
“Members of the Xavier community coming together like this showcases the spirit of our University,” St. Charles said. “Part of our mission is to prepare students to assume roles of leadership and service in the global society and these alumni are taking on the responsibility of preserving that tradition. Their donations to the Annual Fund make a vital difference in the lives of current students.”
Tom Joyner, chairman and founder of the Tom Joyner Foundation, said, “I’m hoping alumni, friends, family and other supporters, will show some love by making a gift to Xavier. This is a great way to help out this great HBCU.”
Last year a total of $275,100 was contributed by nearly 1,200 donors, far surpassing the $120,000 collected in the inaugural year of the event.
A key element of Give. Love. Xavier Day is the use of alumni captains to spur interest among fellow alumni, as well as the establishment of key Challenge Grant incentives: dollar for dollar matches that are realized when alumni and friends made their donations on Give. Love. Xavier Day. This year’s event has nearly $135,000 in matching challenge grants which will only be realized if Xavierites and friends make gifts on June 2nd.
“All of last year’s Challenge Grant Initiatives were met,” said Kim Reese, XU Director of Alumni Relations. “Those matches brought in an extra $90,000 in pledges, making many of our donor dollars twice as impactful!”

Other new twists to this year’s event include a XU National Alumni Association initiative designed to raise Xavier’s alumni giving percentage to 47 percent in honor of Dr. Francis’ 47 years of service, and the support of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, which is encouraging its listeners throughout the country to support the University.
Xavier University of Louisiana has been named the Tom Joyner Foundation 2015 June School of the Month.
During this month, Xavier University will be promoted by the Tom Joyner Morning Show and receive funds raised from listeners, alumni and other interested parties that month. The show, aired in 115 markets around the country, reaches nearly eight million listeners every week. Donations will be raised from June 1st until the end of 2015. Every Thursday, a Hercules Scholar will be named, recognizing an outstanding male student.
The Tom Joyner Foundation also will recognize XULA with stories on tomjoynerfoundation.org. Make your donation to Xavier University of Louisiana by visiting tomjoynerfoundation.org/donate.
More information on Give. Love. Xavier Day is available at  http://www.xula.edu/givelove or by contacting Lacrecia James at (504) 520-5129.
article via blackamericaweb.com