{"id":105594,"date":"2025-03-26T13:33:44","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T17:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/?p=105594"},"modified":"2025-03-27T08:36:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T12:36:45","slug":"umw-community-gets-to-the-heart-of-giving-back-on-mary-wash-day-april-2-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/26\/umw-community-gets-to-the-heart-of-giving-back-on-mary-wash-day-april-2-3\/","title":{"rendered":"UMW Community Gets to the Heart of Giving Back on Mary Wash Day, April 2-3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Justin Gerbereux \u201997 met his wife, Allison Coleman Gerbereux \u201996, when they were on the cross-country team together as Mary Washington students. After they fell in love and graduated, he proposed to her in front of Willard Hall, where she lived during her junior year of college.<\/p>\n

\"The
The University of Mary Washington will hold its eighth annual Mary Wash Day, a 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement, starting at noon Wednesday, April 2, and concluding at noon Thursday, April 3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe University of Mary Washington has always held a special place in our hearts,\u201d said Justin, who joined the UMW Foundation Board of Trustees to give back to his alma mater. \u201cReflecting on the many memories and opportunities available to us at this small liberal arts institution, I hope we can sow some seeds to inspire other graduates to support today\u2019s students.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gerbereuxs will give $10,000 to the unrestricted Fund for Mary Washington when 100 gifts are made by married alumni couples during\u00a0Mary Wash Day<\/strong><\/a>, running from noon Wednesday, April 2, through noon Thursday, April 3. Now in its eighth year, this 24-hour celebration of philanthropy and engagement gives alumni, families, friends, faculty, staff and students the chance to come #TogetherUMW and share their love of Mary Washington.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has the potential to be an absolutely record-breaking Mary Wash Day,\u201d Director of Annual Giving Shelby Orlando \u201914 said. \u201cEvery gift, regardless of size, holds the power to create lasting impact. When combined, these contributions shape the future of UMW students, enhancing their education and empowering them to make a difference for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Members of the UMW community have sponsored more than $500,000 in challenges and matches, exceeding totals from previous years. Their commitment will double and even triple the impact of each gift, helping the University reach its goal of 2,500 gifts from donors, including 1,200 alumni contributors and 350 new supporters.<\/p>\n

Many participation challenges and dollar-for-dollar matches support the\u00a0Fund for Mary Washington<\/strong><\/a>, which underpins every aspect for which the University is known and loved, such as a leading liberal arts and sciences education, small class sizes, personal relationships with professors and classmates, and more.<\/p>\n

Last spring, $25,000 was distributed among eight campus projects and initiatives pitched by UMW students, faculty and staff through the Fund for Mary Washington Impact Grant<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0program. More projects will be selected next month by an alumni committee to receive these donor-funded grants.<\/p>\n

\"Mary <\/a>
Mary Wash Day gifts help students have experiences both inside and beyond the classroom that prepare them for their careers and lives after Mary Washington, such as the \u2018Are We Live?\u2019 course in the Department of Communication and Digital Studies, which teaches students how to write, film, produce and broadcast a weekly comedy show. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Contributions <\/a>
Contributions to the UMW Philharmonic on Mary Wash Day help students explore their musical passions while providing arts and cultural experiences for the greater Fredericksburg community. Gifts can also be made to UMW Theatre, UMW Galleries, Gari Melchers Home and Studio, the James Monroe Museum and the William B. Crawley Great Lives Lecture Series. Photo by Tom Rothenberg. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Gifts <\/a>
Gifts on Mary Wash Day to Friends of Athletics or to a specific sports program provide critical support to help enhance the UMW student-athlete experience. Contributions fund athletic facilities, competition travel, professional development opportunities, custom-training equipment and more. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Mary <\/a>
Mary Wash Day donations help keep UMW\u2019s class sizes small and provide high-impact learning experiences such as undergraduate research and opportunities for students to work alongside faculty mentors. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Service <\/a>
Service and volunteer experiences give UMW students the chance to make a difference on campus and in the community while exploring leadership roles and potential careers. Gifts on Mary Wash Day support COAR and the Center for Community Engagement, the James Farmer Multicultural Center, the Gwen Hale Resource Center and other entities that provide valuable and meaningful experiences for students. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Mary <\/a>
Mary Wash Day helps students who participate in campus clubs, organizations and other activities, such as UMW\u2019s Esports team, pursue interests outside of class while building relationships with their peers. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Supporters can also contribute to student scholarships, academic departments, service and leadership opportunities, campus beautification and more. This year\u2019s goals include:<\/p>\n