Clemson Family Raises More Than $2M On Fourth Annual Give Day, Includes $500,000 Gift

During Clemson University’s 24-hour Give Day, 4,125 donors raised $2,087,947 to create life-altering experiences for students, faculty and staff. The total includes a $500,000 gift made by the Schwehr family of The Woodlands, Texas. Michael ’81, Linda, and their daughters, Laurel and Victoria ’16, made this gift in support of global service learning.

This year’s goal was to increase the number of donors to 3,600, specifically those giving for the first time to bolster lifelong support.

“For our fourth annual Give Day, 4,125 individuals and corporations came together as one Clemson family to benefit our students, faculty, and staff,” said Brian O’Rourke, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations. “We are yet again overwhelmed and humbled by the support and loyalty of our Clemson family.”

The campaign began at 8 a.m. Wednesday and included four challenge gifts, which were unlocked throughout the day as the number of donors reached certain levels:

• The Clemson Clubs combined contributed $21,501 to kick off the day, led by a $3,500 gift from the Atlanta Clemson Club to the Lawrence V. Starkey Scholarship.
• The Andy Cajka family of Greenville made a gift of $10,000 to the President’s Fund for completion grants.
• In honor of his football jersey, number 28, C.J. Spiller pledged $2,800 each year for the next five years to the President’s Fund for completion grants.
• Jeff Brown ’95 and his family of Charlotte, N.C., gave $250,000 toward the new business building as well as scholarships in the College of Business and the College of Education.

“This year, 17 Clemson Clubs and alumni groups all across the nation organized events for Give Day. The Clemson family is truly loyal to our alma mater and we are grateful for such a successful Give Day,” said Ann Smith, senior director of annual giving. “We could not be happier with how passionately our alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends came together for the benefit of our university and students.”

Volunteers and staff collected contributions on campus and in downtown Greenville at Experience Clemson, by telephone, mail, and online. Faculty, staff, alumni, and friends were also encouraged to participate on social media by using #ClemsonGiveDay.

Clemson has raised more than $4 million during the past three Give Days. Last year alone, the university raised $1,440,498 with a total of 3,551 donors.