The 11th Giving Blueday brought together the University of Michigan community to back students, research endeavors, the arts, sustainability initiatives, health and wellness programs, and more.

Contributions were received from over 11,000 supporters across the United States and globally, including alumni, students, faculty, staff, retirees, and university friends, benefiting all three campuses, Athletics, and Michigan Medicine. Throughout Giving Blueday, contributors donated $4.7 million to the university within a 24-hour period.

This annual giving event, taking place on March 19, encouraged Michigan advocates to contribute any amount to the programs and causes they feel most passionate about.

“As we embark on the second decade of our Giving Blueday tradition, I remain astonished by the generosity of the Michigan community and feel honored to be part of this enduring dedication to support our university,” stated Tom Baird, vice president for development.

This year, donors had the chance to engage in 18 distinct challenges, including the Raise the Bar Challenge for student groups, the Ready. Set. Give! Challenge from 7-8 p.m., and the Cuteness Overload Challenge, which provided supporters with opportunities to access extra funding for their initiatives. For student organizations at U-M, Giving Blueday has become a day to collect funds for their group’s requirements. This year, over 150 student organizations participated, such as Engineering Global Leadership Honors Society, Dance Marathon, and Men’s Rugby.

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts garnered the highest number of contributions through the Giving Blueday website, with Women’s Ultimate Frisbee receiving the most gifts among student organizations (with Men’s Ultimate Frisbee closely following). Various student organizations and causes triumphed in fundraising challenges throughout the day, including Wolverine Pathways, UM-Dearborn’s Google Developer Student Club, and University Library, among others.