"SaintsGiving" Scheduled For Tuesday, Dec. 1

Charles Wyatt
"SaintsGiving" Scheduled For Tuesday, Dec. 1

As part of the national "Giving Tuesday" initiative, Limestone College will host its second annual “SaintsGiving” event on Dec. 1 as a way to celebrate generosity and to encourage giving.

The focus of this year’s “SaintsGiving” will be the Limestone Fund, which is a vital part of the College’s operating budget. The fundraising goal for the event is $150,000, according to Kelly Curtis, Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

The Limestone Fund is the College’s unrestricted fund. It provides the necessary resources for merit and need based institutional scholarships, the acquisition of state-of-the art technological equipment, academic and extracurricular programs, and the ability to address other needs and opportunities as they arise.

Alumni and friends of Limestone are encouraged to make tax-deductible “SaintsGiving” donations online at www.limestone.edu/giving, or drop by McMillan Hall on Dec. 1 to make a gift in person.

Bettye Cecil, a Limestone alumna, has issued a “SaintsGiving” challenge. If Limestone can raise $50,000 or more on that day, she will contribute another $50,000.

“We are tremendously excited about the challenge from Mrs. Cecil and what it means for our fundraising efforts,” Curtis said. “A strong Limestone Fund is necessary for the College to continue to recruit the best students, faculty, and staff while providing a top-quality liberal arts education for our current and future students. We encourage alumni and friends of Limestone to make a contribution on SaintsGiving Tuesday. Each and every donation is critical to our success. No matter the size, every gift makes a difference and counts as a positive vote for the future of Limestone College and its students.”

“SaintsGiving” will be headquartered from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at McMillan Hall on the main Limestone campus in Gaffney. There will be a Starbucks coffee, Bojangles biscuits, and other snacks available for visitors coming in to make their donations and pledges.

Radio station WZZQ 104.3 FM will be doing a live remote at the event as representatives from several of the College’s organizations take part to talk about ways that Limestone gives back to the local community. The “SaintsGiving” special edition of the “Fowler & Friends” show will air from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m.

“Our goal is to not only raise funds, but to engage our campus and the community about the importance of giving back,” Curtis explained. “We already have the Thanksgiving holiday as a day to give thanks. And we have Black Friday and Cyber Monday where people can get great deals on Christmas gifts. With ‘SaintsGiving’ we have established an annual event that celebrates philanthropy and provides a day to support Limestone College.”

A total of $49,192 was collected on the inaugural “SaintsGiving” event in 2014, with the majority of that going toward the College's efforts to construct a new library on campus.

“SaintsGiving” is being held in conjunction with the global “Giving Tuesday” movement that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. “Giving Tuesday” has created a national day of giving to kick-off the giving season. It was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation as a response to commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season.