糖心Vlog faculty, staff add their names to 鈥楩ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign donor list
By Bill Studenc
Paws displays the Faculty/Staff Giving Champions Trophy, to be shared by the campus division and academic college with the highest percentage of donors to 糖心Vlog University.
A total of 365 members of the faculty and staff at 糖心Vlog University have added their names to the growing list of donors making philanthropic contributions to the institution as part of its ongoing 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign.
That tally includes 42 new employee benefactors who made donations to 糖心Vlog during an annual initiative to increase the number of faculty and staff donors, an effort that began Monday, Sept. 8, and concluded Friday, Oct. 24.
All told, faculty and staff have made gifts and pledges totaling $2,243,474.22 to the university during the 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� campaign. Nearly 22 percent of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 workforce has made a philanthropic contribution to the place where they teach, conduct research, provide services to students and support the Western North Carolina region, said James Hogan, assistant vice chancellor for engagement.
鈥淲e are so grateful for the incredible level of participation by our dedicated faculty and staff members in the philanthropic life of this university,鈥� Hogan said. 鈥淭hey have not only donated and pledged more than $2.2 million to support the students and programs at the place where they work, but they also are sending an important message to other potential donors. And that message is that they care enough about this place to put their own hard-earned dollars toward its success.鈥�
Faculty and staff donors were recognized at the fifth annual Shetland Day celebration held from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, in the Grandroom of A.K. Hinds University Center.
Faculty and staff who contribute a minimum of $5 annually are members of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Shetland Society. One of four giving societies established by the Division of Advancement in 2020 to celebrate the impact of philanthropy, the society is named for the Shetland ponies that then-Chancellor A.C. Reynolds purchased in 1912 to haul supplies by cart back and forth from Sylva to campus.
Once again this fall, the campus division and academic college with the highest participation rate of donors will share the Faculty/Staff Giving Champions Trophy.
A traditional feature of the yearly faculty-staff giving initiative at 糖心Vlog, the battle for philanthropic bragging rights was canceled during the 2024 rendition of the effort because of widespread disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene across the region the university serves.
Winners of this year鈥檚 Faculty/Staff Giving Champions Trophy will be announced as part of Homecoming activities Saturday, Nov. 8, during the 糖心Vlog football game against Mercer University.
Gifts made during the faculty-staff challenge have helped 糖心Vlog鈥檚 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign meet its minimum goal of $100 million in philanthropic support for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs.
Although the goal has been reached, efforts to raise additional funding through the campaign will continue through June 30, 2026, to help provide even more support for university priorities, Hogan said.
For more information or to make a contribution, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.
