Beavers Set Record on Giving Tuesday
More than 300 alumni and friends join faculty and staff in paying it forward at BVU
The Buena Vista University community celebrated a record Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3 as more than 300 generous alumni and friends joined faculty and staff members in contributing nearly $91,000 to a variety of needs and programs across BVU.
Benefactors from 26 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, representing seven decades of involvement at BVU joined forces to support the Annual Fund (the University’s Greatest Needs), Athletics, the Build-Up Iowa Scholarship, Online and Graduate Programs, and more.
“Serving the All-Campus Christmas Dinner and seeing our students enjoying themselves and giving thanks for everything our alumni and friends provide made for a perfect end to our best Giving Tuesday yet. Our ability to faithfully serve others begins with a tradition of giving handed down through the generations at BVU.”
-BVU President Brian A. Lenzmeier, Ph.D.
“We have celebrated Giving Tuesday since 2019 and the 2024 effort was far and away our best yet,” says Barb Aiona, Director of Annual Giving. “The outpouring of generosity shown by our BVU community across the country allowed us to meet every matching and challenge gift that came from five different donors, including former President Dr. Keith G. and Carmen Briscoe.”
Additionally, several former Beaver student-athletes took up the cause for their sport and reached out through Giving Tuesday, working to connect their teammates and peers to their alma mater.
Fifty benefactors made a gift to BVU for the first time, a great sign for things to come as the University continues to strengthen bonds among alumni and friends.
Members of the BVU faculty and staff enjoyed a come-and-go breakfast reception at the Cordell ’63 and Sandra Peterson Fireside Lounge within Siebens Forum on Tuesday morning as Giving Tuesday commenced. Those same dedicated faculty and staff members returned to Siebens Forum in the evening to serve more than 600 students who attended one of BVU’s greatest traditions, the Student Christmas Dinner.
“Serving the All-Campus Christmas Dinner and seeing our students enjoying themselves and giving thanks for everything our alumni and friends provide made for a perfect end to our best Giving Tuesday yet,” says BVU President Brian A. Lenzmeier. “Our ability to faithfully serve others begins with a tradition of giving handed down through the generations at BVU.”
To see the results of Giving Tuesday, or to make your gift, visit bvu.edu/beaversgive.
Additionally, make plans to attend the Second Annual Beaver Ball in Des Moines on Feb. 22, a scholarship gala that precedes a giving day celebration we at BVU have all to ourselves: International Beaver Day on April 9.