Ball State University announced on Mar. 25 that One Ball State Day, its annual day of giving and celebration, will take place on Wednesday, April 1. The event is a 24-hour initiative inviting alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students to support the university through donations and engagement.
The day is designed to strengthen the university by encouraging gifts of $5 or more for student emergency aid or specific departments and organizations. Donors can participate online from midnight to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time via oneballstate.bsu.edu. Last year’s event raised over $1.3 million from more than 7,900 gifts, including contributions from over 400 students and nearly 2,000 employees across supporters in 17 countries.
“One Ball State Day reflects the generosity and enduring spirit of beneficence that define Ball State University,” said Geoffrey S. Mearns, president of Ball State University. “Each year, our alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students come together to support opportunities that help our students thrive. I am grateful to everyone who participates in this special day and demonstrates, through their engagement and their gifts, a shared commitment to our mission to prepare graduates for fulfilling careers and for meaningful lives.”
The event will feature campus activities such as games at Emens Auditorium Lobby headquarters; donuts with deans; trivia taxi rides; a Dash & Splash inflatable duck race at Lewellen Pool; pizza with President Mearns; a dunk tank fundraiser; shakes and T-shirts giveaways; as well as an inaugural dodgeball tournament raising funds for various causes.
Lola Mauer, associate vice president of engagement and strategy at the Ball State University Foundation said: “One Ball State Day is an opportunity to celebrate what Ball State makes possible… It is about more than a single day of giving. It is a chance for our University community to come together… Every gift and every act of engagement helps strengthen the Ball State experience.”
Ball State serves more than 20,000 students across seven academic colleges according to the official website. The university has produced over 200,000 alumni worldwide as noted on its official website.
Funding comes from initiatives like a $350 million campaign along with state investments exceeding $210 million for facilities according to the official website. Facilities include classrooms, labs, sports fields such as the Health Professions Building and an upcoming Performing Arts Center as described by the university.
Ball State fosters an inclusive environment guided by Beneficence values in preparing students for service locally and globally according to its official site. Recognized as a top-tier Midwest institution with high economic mobility among graduates as noted by the university, it offers education in fields like architecture business humanities while supporting affordable learning opportunities focused on community engagement according to its legacy statement.
For further details about One Ball State Day or ways to participate or donate throughout April 1st visit oneballstate.bsu.edu.