The fifth annual Birds Give Back, Illinois State University’s day of giving, will be Thursday, February 23, during Redbird Philanthropy Week scheduled February 20-24.
Birds Give Back was launched in 2019 and has become a popular annual tradition for Redbirds. Nearly $1 million was raised in 2022 on Birds Give Back, and over $3.8 million over the past four giving days has been contributed to challenges, pledges, and donations from a cumulative 10,000 gifts.
The goal for this fifth year of Birds Give Back is to receive at least 3,000 gifts in 24 hours. To set a new giving day record, we would need to receive 3,185 gifts to surpass our high mark set in 2021.
“Donations to Illinois State University, whether it’s $20 or $2,000, make a transformational impact in the lives of Redbirds and in their overall academic experience,” said Senior Director of Annual Giving Jillian Nelson.
“Our hope is to not only raise necessary funds for the projects that our students and faculty have chosen to highlight but also to provide an exciting and elevated giving experience for Redbirds and continue educating about the vital role donors and philanthropy have on our campus,” she said.
The day will be full of giving challenges campus-wide and also for specific departments, including an opening challenge from alum Rod Sargeant. Sargeant has challenged the Redbird community to start Birds Give Back strong and will give $20,000 for a Redbird Scholarship when the first 500 gifts have been made. Sargeant’s challenge is in honor of the love of his life, Darlene Anne Sargeant ’66.
Sargeant ’65, M.S. ’67 challenges us to “use your gift on Birds Give Back to spread some Redbird love. Make your gift in honor or in memory of the special Redbirds in your life!”
All giving challenges happening on Birds Give Back in support of our students and faculty can be found at birdsgiveback.illinoisstate.edu. Updates will be made on the website throughout the giving day as challenges are met and generous donations are unlocked.
Contributions made to Birds Give Back have had a direct impact on the lives of students and their academic experiences. Last year during Birds Give Back, over 200 gifts were received for the undergraduate Geology Field Camp program. Geology Field Camp is the capstone experience, as part of an award-winning Field Geology course, where students can apply their accumulated knowledge and skills to the investigation and interpretation of unfamiliar geologic areas.
“Because of the generosity of our Geology alums during Birds Give Back, we were able to take 20 students on a field trip to the southern Lake Superior area to study the local geology. All students were able to attend free of charge, including motel stays, which enabled us to spend more time in the field as well as provide access for students who do not have camping gear,” said Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment Distinguished Professor Dr. Dave Malone.
All of the featured projects and funds will be featured on the Birds Give Back website which opens at midnight on the day, February 23. Donors can select and give to the areas of campus they are most passionate about.
One of the featured funds highlighted this year for ISU Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) is for new virtual reality (VR) equipment. The VR equipment is not only used in the Simulation Lab to provide nursing students with state-of-the-art learning opportunities but will also be taken on the road to area career centers and schools to introduce nursing as a career option. By showcasing the profession early and often using interactive learning tools, MCN intends to inspire more people to join the nursing field.
“Virtual reality is a valuable, interactive recruitment tool we can use to attract more people to the profession of nursing. It catches students’ attention and motivates them to learn more. By increasing interest in nursing programs, we can have a positive impact on the critical nursing shortage that is facing our area and the nation,” said Mennonite College of Nursing Dean Judy Neubrander.
Another featured fund, new this year, is for the University’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) program. Donations to the EDI program help to support EDI initiatives that are in collaboration with many areas of campus. Examples of such EDI-supported initiatives are a Native American studies research project with the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as support for the SOAR program which helps provide scholarships, mentoring, and other resources to underrepresented students.
Birds Give Back is the culmination of Redbird Philanthropy Week, which kicks off February 20 with a variety of online and in-person activities for students to engage in giving and learning more about the impact of philanthropy. An in-person Redbird Philanthropy Week event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22, in the Bone Student Center inside the Prairie Room. Students will have a chance to win prizes and funds that they can give to a university program of their choice.
To learn more about Birds Give Back, visit the website at BirdsGiveBack.IllinoisState.edu. The full website will be live on February 23, 2023. To sign up as a Redbird Ambassador for Birds Give Back, visit the Ambassador resource page. All Birds Give Back projects and challenges led by students and faculty will be listed on BirdsGiveBack.IllinoisState.edu.
