The Fund for WCU

122
Donors
162% of 75 Donor goal
$11,454
Donated
This campaign ended on April 04, 2024, but you can still make a gift to Western Carolina University by clicking here!

Featured


Gifts to The Fund for WCU contribute to...
One Day for Western 2024
1,142 Donors - $494,043 Donated
95%
🐱About

The Fund for WCU, previously known as The Loyalty Fund, provides immediate support for Western's greatest needs.  

Beacuse The Fund for WCU allows for flexibility in how funds are distributed, your contributions fund urgent and impactful needs across campus and in the community! 

Small gifts add up; investing in The Fund for WCU at any level still allows you to make a big impact on campus and beyond. With your help, we can increase the number of projects and scholarships we fund each and every year to ensure that students, programs, and projects continue benefiting from your generosity.

Join us on One Day for Western and make a direct impact on our students and their experience at WCU. Our goal is to secure 75 donors to make a gift on April 3, but we can only get there with your help!

Matches & Challenges
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Donation Challenge

$500 if 100 donors give in the next 7 months

Challenge Complete!

Offered by Paul Drew Barefoot

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Donation Challenge

$500 if 50 donors give in the next 7 months

Challenge Complete!

Offered by Zach Shatley

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Donation Match

$10 per donor up to $500

Match Complete!

Offered by Mike and Gina Crawford

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Donation Match

$10 per donor up to $500

Match Complete!

Offered by Dennis A. Fox & Susan Fox

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$10 per donor up to $150

Match Complete!

Offered by Anonymous

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$10 per donor up to $100

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For The Fund for WCU

Offered by Julia McManus

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Donation Match

$10 per $1 donated up to $100

Match Complete!

For The Fund for WCU

Offered by Barbra

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Donation Match

$5 per $1 donated up to $500

Match Complete!

Offered by Robin Parton Pate

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Donation Match

$5 per donor up to $50

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For The Fund for WCU

Offered by Heather H Jones

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$5 per donor up to $50

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For The Fund for WCU

Offered by Marcelina Woods

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$5 per donor up to $50

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For The Fund for WCU

Offered by Tommy White & Shelly White

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$5 per donor up to $50

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For The Fund for WCU

Offered by Mitch Treadaway

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$5 per donor up to $50

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For The Fund for WCU

Offered by Kate Oelslager

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Donation Match

$5 per donor up to $50

Match Complete!

For Faculty/Staff

Offered by Rebekah Cheney

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$5 per donor up to $50

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Offered by Dick Freeman

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$5 per donor up to $50

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Offered by Edward J Burks

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$5 per donor up to $50

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For The Fund for WCU

Offered by Myra Grant

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Donation Match

$5 per donor up to $50

Match Complete!

For The Fund for WCU

Offered by Beverly S Barr & William G Barr

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Donation Match

$1 per donor up to $250

Match Complete!

Offered by Allison M. Hinson

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Donation Match

$1 per $1 donated up to $200

Match Complete!

Offered by Laura Rabb

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Donation Match

$1 per donor up to $100

Match Complete!

Offered by Randy Shaw

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Donation Match

$1 per donor up to $50

Match Complete!

For Classes between 2014 & 2023

Offered by Tenisea Higgins

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Donation Match

$1 per $1 donated up to $50

Match Complete!

Offered by Elizabeth Thier & Jeff Thier

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💜Updates
Drumroll, please... 🥁

The results are in, Catamounts: we surpassed last year's totals! Your generosity will help make one day possible for so many students at Western. 

We are blown away by your response and generosity (again) this year during One Day for Western! And you helped us Fill the Western Sky by turning the map purple: we secured gifts from 49 of 50 states! 

Check out some highlights of our results below and visit oneday.wcu.edu for even more information about the impact of your giving. Go Cats!

204 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
One Extra Email...

Hey, Catamounts! You may have received an email from GiveCampus this morning that re-sent our "Wave the royal banner high" post featuring our Pride of the Mountains Marching Band and asking you to participate in One Day for Western. Our partners at GiveCampus let us know this was just a bug in the system that affected a few campaigns that have already ended, so no cause for alarm. We received your gift and appreciate your generosity! Our team is still working hard to share finalized totals in the coming days, so we'll provide a (real) update soon.

In the interim, we hope you're having a great week and send our gratitude to members of Catamount nation far and wide!

Gratefully,

Rebekah B. Cheney

Director of Annual Giving 

211 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
Thank you, Catamount Nation!

What a day (and then some), Catamounts! Thank you to every single person who helped make one day possible for our students. Whether you made a gift, shared our message, cheered us on, or did all three - your contributions matter and impacted our success this year.

We will be finalizing our totals in the coming days and are excited to report more on the impact of your generosity. Until then, please know that we are incredibly grateful for your support!

Go Cats! 

Warmly,


Rebekah B. Cheney 

Director of Annual Giving

217 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
One Day Update!


You are still showing up, Catamounts! 

With just a few hours left, we are nearly 90% to our goal. We are so close, and your advocacy is making a huge difference.

We are also making great progress on turning the map purple to Fill the Western Sky! We still are looking for gifts from:

  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Minnesota
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont

Do you know someone in any of these states? Consider asking them to make a gift before 5 p.m. to help us Fill the Western Sky.

Your generosity and advocacy are helping make one day possible. We're almost to the finish line... GO CATS!

217 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
Western Wednesday Highlight: Zach, Sion, and Landon


Yesterday's special live edition of Western Wednesday focused on One Day for Western! Here's a clip of three current students who talk about their hopes for the future.

If you didn't catch our special LIVE Western Wednesday podcast, you can rewatch the whole show here! James, Ben and Stacey chat with students, donors, and staff about programs and dreams that are worth investing in. 

217 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
One Day More... (yes, we get the joke)


Catamounts: there's still time to make one day possible. We're still reaching for the biggest giving day goal we've ever aimed for, and we know we can accomplish it with your help! Beyond making a gift, the best way you can help is to share our message with your networks and remind your fellow Catamounts to give and share, too! We'll keep counting until 5 p.m. Thursday, so keep advocating for our incredible programs and students. GO CATS!

217 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
Tune in to a LIVE Western Wednesday at 6 pm Eastern!

Hear directly from students, faculty and staff about One Day for Western and why it matters during this special broadcast. Watch the live podcast here!

218 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
One Day Update!

With about nine hours left, we are over 40% to our goal. Let's keep going, Catamount nation!

We still want to turn the map purple and Fill the Western Sky! If you know Catamounts in the following states, give them a shout:

  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Idaho
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
218 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
Students Say Thank You!

Check out some photos from our student event: One Day of Thankfulness... you may even receive a handwritten note from a student in the coming weeks!




We're 40% to our donor goal... let's keep it up! GO CATS!

218 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
Wave the royal banner high, and let it fill the Western sky!

Catamount nation, this is what happens when we come together... 

Last year, One Day for Western donors supported countless projects and programs to make one day possible for Catamounts. Remember how the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band was preparing to travel to Dublin, Ireland for their first international trip? One Day for Western donors played a critical role in these students' experience.

What cause (or causes) will you support this year as we work to fill the Western sky? Help us turn the map purple by encouraging donors from every state to support WCU today.

Video courtsey of Dean George H. Brown; Kilkenny Castle, March 14, 2024.

218 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
It's here: Happy One Day for Western!

One Day for Western exists because of our AMAZING students... join the fun by making your gift or sharing on social media today!

218 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
Can we Fill the Western Sky?

Catamounts, we want to turn the map purple on April 3. We need at least one donor from all 50 states to fill the Western sky, so reach out to Catamounts (and friends of Catamount nation) far and wide! After all, what's more beautiful than a sky full of purple?

States we've already received gifts from are North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio, Texas, Indiana, Colorado, and Hawaii. Only 38 to go!

219 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
Supoprt The Fund for WCU

The Fund for WCU provides immediate support for Western's greatest needs. It's a great example of collective impact: small gifts add up to make a big difference!

Because The Fund for WCU allows for flexibility in how funds are distributed, your contributions fund urgent and impactful needs across campus and in the community. Two of the several areas that The Fund for WCU supports include First Year Access Scholarships and 1889 Impact Grants. 

  • First Year Access Scholarships: the primary focus of the 1889 First Year Access Scholarships is recruiting incoming freshman students to WCU. During the 2023-24 academic year, 79 scholarships were awarded to incoming freshmen. 
  • 1889 Impact Grants: the 1889 Impact Grant program was created so WCU colleges, departments, and units could access funds to support initiatives which align with WCU’s philanthropic priorities and further enhance the engagement of alumni and stakeholders to the philanthropic life of the university. During the 2022-23 grant cycle, $43,500 was awarded to fund 8 projects. These projects ranged from supporting a new First Gen Club to providing an international learning experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina for students who completed the Academic Success Program.

Investing in The Fund for WCU at any level still allows you to make a big impact on campus and beyond. With your help on One Day for Western, we can increase the number of projects and scholarships we fund each and every year to ensure that students, programs, and projects continue benefiting from your generosity. 

219 days ago by Rebekah Cheney

🎁Donors

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Donor Affiliations
Gradhat icon41%Alumni
Friends icon14%Friends
Suitcase icon10%Faculty/Staff
Parent icon6%Parents
Book icon4%Students
Most Recent Donors
Jennifer Vincent
Jennifer Vincent
Katherine N Brown
Katherine N Brown
Anna Lindmark
Anna Lindmark
Kim
Kim
Chris & Kirstin Schlenker
Chris & Kirstin Schlenker
Robert J. and Kay S. McDermott
Robert J. and Kay S. McDermott
Klari Farzley
Klari Farzley
Jonathan A Farmer
Jonathan A Farmer
Robert L Holt
Robert L Holt
Wm. R. Carpender
Wm. R. Carpender

📣Advocates

Dan Killian photo
Dan Killian
Heart icon matched a total of $5,000
Anonymous photo
Anonymous
Heart icon matched a total of $5,000
Gayle Watkins photo
Gayle Watkins
Heart icon matched a total of $5,000
Anonymous photo
Anonymous
Heart icon matched a total of $4,500
Stacey Miller photo
generated 126 clicks and 33 gifts, totaling $3,360
Jamie Temples Raynor photo
Heart icon matched a total of $250
generated 79 clicks and 21 gifts, totaling $3,056
Wells Funeral Home, Inc. and Cremation Services photo
Wells Funeral Home, Inc. and Cremation Services
Heart icon matched a total of $3,000
Jason Ward photo
Jason Ward
Heart icon matched a total of $2,000
Sherri Holbert, Relocate 828 photo
Sherri Holbert, Relocate 828
Heart icon matched a total of $2,000
Winter, Kim K. photo
Winter, Kim K.
Heart icon matched 11 gifts for a total of $1,000
generated 1 gift, totaling $100