On GiveUNC, the UNC Institute for the Environment recorded its most successful GiveUNC effort to date, raising nearly $340,000 in 24 hours. The Institute placed among the top four campus units from across UNC-Chapel Hill behind only the Kenan-Flagler Business School, College of Arts and Sciences and the Rams Club. GiveUNC, Carolina’s university-wide day of giving, engages alumni, friends, faculty, staff and other Carolina supporters to invest in the causes they care about most.
“A muted approach respectful to the difficult times we are facing still resulted in $338,598 donated by 70 donors,” says Mike Piehler, director of the UNC Institute for the Environment and professor of marine sciences and environmental sciences and engineering, noting several gifts are still being processed. “This far exceeds our extremely strong results from last year of $71,697 and 50 donors.”
This year, several Institute Board of Visitors members provided “challenge” match gifts to encourage maximum support. The Institute unlocked 3 of the 4 challenges given by Bryan Brice, Jim Kerr and Pavel Molchanov.
One of the challenges rewarded the Institute’s social media growth, which exceeded its goals, too. By the end of the challenge, the Institute had more than 1,235 Facebook followers and 2,575 Twitter followers.
Piehler acknowledged that it took the effort of the entire Institute and its community of family and friends for making the day a success.
“Thanks to everyone for all you do to make the IE a great place that donors want to invest in, and thanks again to those who helped fuel IE to an amazing performance which has generated attention throughout the University,” Piehler says.