Blazers Give Day 2024 is a 24-hour celebration of the Trailblazer spirit where the Vincennes University community – alumni, employees, students, parents, and friends – come together in the spirit of giving, to make a difference with donations that will impact the current and future state of VU and its students.
Blazers Give Day will commence at midnight on April 4 and last until 11:59 p.m.
The event is an opportunity to raise money for a variety of university needs, everything from student scholarships to grants for university colleges and departments.
Kristi Deetz, executive director of the Vincennes University Foundation, said, “the day is about giving, not just giving to the university, but it’s about the entire idea of helping others.”
While Blazers Give Day is a celebration of the many donors who have given to the university over the last four years, students can participate in events curated by the Student Activities Department, including a mini-golf course, rock climbing, and a ninja warrior inflatable obstacle course, all set up at the intramural fields.
“This year what we’ve decided to do something a little bigger, something that will get your attention,” said Elizabeth Hutchinson, director of student activities.
“Even if you don’t know what’s going on in the intramural fields, you’re going to see something that will bring you over to get involved.”
The foundation is also collecting donations for two different food pantries, Sandy’s Pantry and Christian Campus Fellowship, as well as Blazers and More, a professional clothing closet that is operated out of the foundation office that provides clothing for students who may need items for interviews or on-air broadcasting debuts.
The American Red Cross will also have a table available for students to sign up to participate in a campus blood drive set for 1-6 p.m. on April 10 in the Rec Center.
“Blazers Give Day makes for a great afternoon for students, faculty, and friends to meet and make new connections with people that you wouldn’t normally run into on a day-to-day basis,” said Hutchison.
Students will have the opportunity to meet alumni and the employees from the foundation office, as well as VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson and Provost Dr. Laura Treanor.
There will be an opportunity for students who have received scholarships in the past or who just want to thank donors for supporting the university to write a “thank you” note.
Students are encouraged to tell their stories, to be ambassadors via social media or be recorded by the foundation office and share why they believe donors should support VU on Blazers Give Day. Students can also share to social media with the hashtag, #BlazersGive.
Hutchinson believes that the connections to be made between students and donors is one way student involvement positively impacts the success of Blazers Give.
“Having that ability to put that face, even if just one or two student faces, is huge for a donor to be able to say that they are aware of where their dollars are going; it adds to the reason that they will donate,” she said.
Deetz said, “this is an opportunity for students to come up and say “hi” to the (foundation’s) Board of Directors, alumni and donors.”
“It’s really important for students to get to know us in the foundation and the alumni association well before they’re alumni,” she said. “We would love to have an entire student core to work with us in our office.
“To understand what we do now as a student can help you carry it forward later in life.”
In the event of rain, intramural activities mal be moved inside of Jefferson Union.
