Ball State Raises Almost $425,000 Through Its Inaugural One Ball State Day

Aerial view of the Ball State Campus. Photo by: BSU Photo ServicesAerial view of the Ball State Campus. Photo by: BSU Photo Services

By: Marc Ransford—

Muncie, IN– Members of the Ball State community came together on April 9 to raise about 3,770 gifts totaling almost $425,000 as part of the One Ball State Day — a 24-hour fundraiser for the University.

President Geoffrey S. Mearns said One Ball State Day exceeded expectations, both in dollars raised and the number of gifts.

“It was wonderful to see Cardinals from across the country — alumni, faculty and staff, students, parents, and friends — joining together to give to the areas of the University that matter most to them,” President Mearns said. “These philanthropic investments will support academic programs, student organizations, and numerous funds that make possible the transformative impact our University has on the lives of thousands of women and men. I am grateful to everyone who participated.”

The number of gifts and overall investment into the University will rise in the coming days and weeks as gifts are still coming in. For 100 years, Ball State has grown thanks to the generosity and engagement of the entire University community, he said.

Members of the Ball State community who didn’t get a chance to make a gift but would still like to support the University may visit https://connect.bsu.edu/18/give to give to their area of interest.

The top three areas for gifts during One Ball State Day were raised for the Department of Theatre and Dance (774), Athletics (623), and the Ball State Fund (168), which is designed to address the greatest needs of the University. Matching gifts and challenges included the areas of Athletics, Student Life, Greek Life, Paul W. Parkison Department of Accounting, the College of Fine Arts, and the Department of Journalism.

One Ball State Day totals were boosted by numerous challenges and matching gifts, and celebration of the 1,918th gift, commemorating the year Ball State was founded.

In addition, hundreds of Ball State supporters spread the #OneBallState spirit on social media over a 24-hour period by sharing posts and photos, videos, stories, and their reasons for giving.

President Mearns and the University will extend the spirit of Beneficence today with the kickoff of the Cardinal Varsity Club’s new member campaign and on April 13 for the Alumni Association’s first-ever Day of Beneficence.

 

About Ball State

Founded in 1918 and located in Muncie, Ball State is one of Indiana’s signature universities and an economic driver for the state. Ball State’s nearly 22,000 students come from all over Indiana, the nation, and the world, and its 780-acre campus is large enough to accommodate premier facilities and 19 NCAA Division I sports but small enough to ensure the friendliness, personal attention, and access that are the hallmarks of the University.