One Tribe One Day returns April 21
One Tribe One Day Students enjoy a petting zoo in the Sunken Garden as part of the inaugural One Tribe One Day. This year's effort will take place April 21. Photo by Stephen Salpukas
One Tribe One Day Alumni and friends in London contributed to the One Tribe One Day effort in 2014, raising over $150,000 for William & Mary in a single day. Courtesy photo
One Tribe One Day Alumni and friends in Chicago contributed to the One Tribe One Day effort in 2014, raising over $150,000 for William & Mary in a single day. Courtesy photo
The entire William & Mary community will band together on Tuesday, April 21, to celebrate One Tribe One Day — the second annual giving day for the university. For 24 hours, students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends can make a gift of any size to any facet of William & Mary and add their support to the record-breaking effort. The university has established www.wm.edu/otod to serve as the central rallying point for giving, information and social media.
Last year, One Tribe One Day brought more than 1,700 donors together to give over $150,000 to the university, breaking the previous single-day donor record of 523. Tribe members from all over the globe contributed to the effort. The 2015 event promises to be even more successful, as the university hopes to attract 2,100 donors throughout Tuesday.
“One Tribe One Day is quickly turning into an exciting tradition,” says Vice President for University Advancement Matthew T. Lambert ’99. “Last year, the entire global community rallied in a spectacular way to support William & Mary — we can’t wait to see what happens this year.”
{{youtube:medium:left|fyhdIt45qxc, One Tribe One Day: Selfies with Reveley}}
“Participation is the key to success during One Tribe One Day,” says Dan Frezza, assistant vice president for Lifetime Philanthropic Engagement & Annual Giving. “Every gift matters, no matter where it is given or how large it is.”
Frezza also suggests giving your time to promote the day. “Being active through social media and within individual William & Mary networks to spread the word will provide a profound impact,” he says.
“Donor participation truly strengthens the university’s reputation,” says Frezza. “A strong showing during One Tribe One Day will help ensure William & Mary is able to sustain today’s excellence and build for the future.”
Alumni, parents and friends worldwide will celebrate One Tribe One Day at dedicated events in more than a dozen cities. International events will take place in London, Zurich, Hong Kong and Tokyo; across the U.S., the Tribe will gather in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and central Ohio. In Virginia, the William & Mary community can find events in Arlington, Fairfax Station, Richmond and Virginia Beach.
“Our alumni chapters and friends around the world have shown tremendous initiative in making sure One Tribe One Day is a global success,” says Marilyn Ward Midyette ’75, executive director of the William & Mary Alumni Association. “Their ability to generate excitement for the Tribe is second-to-none.”
To help get the word out, the university prepared a short promotional video featuring President Taylor Reveley and William & Mary’s iconic Griffin mascot getting ready for One Tribe One Day. In it, Reveley helps the Griffin take selfies to add to the 24-Hour Photo Challenge, using the hashtag #OneTribeOneDay. Photos, tweets and Facebook posts which include that hashtag will appear on the One Tribe One Day website at www.wm.edu/otod.
On Tuesday, the William & Mary campus will also play host to a pair of One Tribe One Day events: a One Tribe One Day Carnival, sponsored by Students for University Advancement; and a One Tribe One Day BBQ sponsored by the Senior Class Gift committee. The carnival will be held from 4-7 p.m. in Crim Dell Meadow and will include a petting zoo, popcorn, cotton candy and lawn games. The barbecue is for members of the Class of 2015 and will be in Leadership Hall at the Alumni House from 5-7 p.m.
In addition to these events, students will play an integral part in energizing the Tribe for the worldwide giving event. One Tribe One Day was an “overwhelming experience” last year, says Amanda Gordon ’16, chair of the Students for University Advancement.
“While it was fun to see the underclassmen come together for an afternoon petting zoo in Crim Dell Meadow,” she says, “it was very inspiring to see so many students donate back to the College. I hope to see even more students participate in One Tribe One Day this year.”
With any luck, One Tribe One Day will break last year’s records and demonstrate the William & Mary community’s global support of the Tribe once again. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends alike are all invited to join the movement at www.wm.edu/otod.
“One Tribe One Day is an enormous opportunity to bring the community together,” says Lambert. “It’s an inspiring chance to witness the Tribe’s dedication to engagement and philanthropy.”
