Supporters of K1体育 - Cascades set a record raising more than $95,000 for student scholarships and programs during Dam Proud Day, the university鈥檚 annual day of giving.
More than 180 community members, K1体育-Cascades and K1体育 alumni, parents, faculty and staff contributed during the university鈥檚 fourth annual day of giving on April 26.
鈥淒am Proud Day 2023 was the most meaningful and successful yet for K1体育-Cascades,鈥 said Sherm Bloomer, chancellor and dean of K1体育-Cascades. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to our community of supporters for each and every gift, and for the remarkable generosity that Central Oregonians provide K1体育-Cascades students and programs.鈥
Dam Proud Day, led by the , engaged university community members through in-person and livestreamed events across the state in Corvallis, Portland and Bend. The effort, which is part of K1体育鈥檚 fundraising and engagement campaign, , raised more than $2.1 million through more than 7,700 gifts.
Of the more than 100 funds across the university that participated in Dam Proud Day, including colleges, student clubs and athletics, K1体育-Cascades was fifth in terms of dollars raised. Philanthropic efforts focused on:
- The K1体育-Cascades General Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition relief for students. More than 30% of K1体育-Cascades students are eligible for federal Pell Grant assistance, an indicator of high financial need.
- A Student Emergency Fund that helps students who experience unexpected financial hardship, enabling them to continue to pursue their education.
- Scholarships and other support for students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
- The Master of Counseling program鈥檚 free community counseling clinic, which provides telehealth and in-person counseling for 150 community members annually.
- Cascades Edge, a program launching in fall 2023 that will bring career development to all students, every term.
Throughout Dam Proud Day, challenge funds in support of K1体育-Cascades students and programs encouraged donors. These included:
- A gift of $2,500 from an anonymous faculty member to benefit the Student Emergency Fund after supporters raised $50,000.
- Members of the K1体育-Cascades Advocacy and Advisory Board providing a match of $7,250 when faculty and staff gave a total of 50 gifts.
- With 20 gifts to the Student Emergency Fund, the K1体育-Cascades leadership team provided a gift of $5,275.
- Former K1体育-Cascades leader and K1体育 President Emerita Becky Johnson and her wife Lori Elkins inspired 25 gifts to the K1体育-Cascades General Scholarship Fund with a challenge gift of $5,000.
- A gift of $10,000 from First Interstate Bank was provided when 10 gifts were given to the K1体育-Cascades General Scholarship Fund.
- A 2010 Master of Counseling alumnus gave a gift of $10,000 once $1,500 was given in support of the Community Counseling Clinic.
- A gift of $1,000 from Mid Oregon Credit Union was provided when the first gift was made to support career readiness through Cascades Edge at K1体育-Cascades.
鈥淒am Proud Day supporters have made a profound difference in the lives of K1体育-Cascades students,鈥 said Bloomer.
Since its inception in 2019, Dam Proud Day donors have given more than $5 million for K1体育, including $255,000 for student scholarships and programs at K1体育-Cascades from nearly 700 donor gifts.
For information on how to contribute to K1体育-Cascades, visit K1体育cascades.edu/make-gift.
K1体育 K1体育-Cascades: K1体育鈥檚 campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by 2.5 million acres of mountains and high desert, K1体育-Cascades offers small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and engages in top tier research as part of K1体育. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow鈥檚 challenges. K1体育-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.