Giving Blueday 2023 was a-maize-ing

March 27, 2023

More than 500 people participated in the annual day of giving and made it the most successful Giving Blueday for UM-Dearborn to date.

Photo of a student letter written to a donor

The Dearborn Wolverine community stepped up as leaders and best during Giving Blueday 2023 to help current and future students reach their academic goals.

The March 15 event raised more than $200,000 to support students. Over $160,000 went toward scholarships. Thousands of dollars in matching funds will help adult learners with financial need get access to technology. And the Alumni Society Board celebrated its 50th anniversary by supporting the Go Blue Guarantee Endowment, which provides a free UM-Dearborn education to low-income high-achieving students. 

“Preliminary results show more than 500 UM-Dearborn alumni and donors came together to make it the biggest Giving Blueday for UM-Dearborn to date,” said Annual Giving Director Eva Gogola, a 2004 College of Arts, Sciences, & Letters alum. “UM-Dearborn set a Giving Blueday record. I’m proud to be a graduate of a university that focuses on helping the next generation succeed.”

Gogola shared a few highlights:

  • SOAR students, who are adult learners with financial need, benefited from a $10,000 match to the Professor Angela J. Allen Laptop and Technology Fund
  • Donations to several research, study abroad and internship programs across the university supported practice-based learning
  • The Alumni Society Board and university leadership pledged over $18,000 in matches for the Go Blue Guarantee Endowment
  • The Michigan Aeronautical Science Association and the UM-Dearborn Women’s Soccer team won their respective donor challenges, which won them additional funding
  • Talent Gateway won the Sharing is Caring U-M social media challenge
  • Jim (‘88) and Maureen Lico generously supported the Donald Thomas Lico Endowed Scholarship, which helps College of Business students with financial need

Missed Giving Blueday, but still want to donate? You can view UM-Dearborn projects, student organizations, scholarships and more to support at the Leaders and Best online giving website.

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.