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One Day for Western is an opportunity for you to show your support and commitment to Highlands Biological Station (HBS), a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. It is made up of the Highlands Nature Center, Laboratory, and Botanical Garden. Your gifts will help provide critical funding to support a variety of initiatives at HBS.
Join us on One Day for Western and make a direct impact on our students and their experience at WCU. Our goal is for 25 donors to make a gift on April 3 - but we can only get there with your help.
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!

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
306 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
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
312 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
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!
312 days ago by Rebekah CheneyYesterday'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.
312 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
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!
312 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
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!
313 days ago by Rebekah Cheney
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
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!
313 days ago by Rebekah CheneyCatamount 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.
One Day for Western exists because of our AMAZING students... join the fun by making your gift or sharing on social media today!
313 days ago by Rebekah CheneyCatamounts, 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!
Highlands Biological Station (HBS) is a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University. It is made up of the Highlands Nature Center, Laboratory, and Botanical Garden. HBS seeks to better understand the incredible biodiversity of our region while also sharing the Plateau’s natural wonders with our community and visitors. From visiting researchers, to academic courses and workshops, to free, educational programs for all ages, your support helps fund research initiatives and incredible learning opportunities for anyone who visits the Station.
Will you support HBS on One Day for Western and beyond?
314 days ago by Rebekah Cheney🎁Donors
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