Contact: Amy Cagle
STARKVILLE, Miss.— Mississippi State University's fourth annual online giving event, Hail State Giving Days, again marked success by exceeding its goal of total donors. For the 2017 event, MSU overwhelmingly surpassed 1,000 donations for areas across campus over a two-day period.
During April 10-11, a total of $653,195 flowed in from 1,319 donors in 42 different states over 48 hours. Hail State Giving Days is held on the Monday and Tuesday following the university’s Super Bulldog Weekend each year, and all contributions become part of the ongoing Infinite Impact capital campaign.
Hail State Giving Days is powered by social media through #DawgsDigDonors with the collaboration of university alumni, friends, students, parents, faculty and staff. The event promotes the university’s mission while encouraging investment in it.
“We are excited and grateful to exceed our goal of desired donors for Hail State Giving Days for the fourth consecutive year,” said Jana Berkery, director of annual giving for the MSU Foundation. “The much-anticipated yearly event gives the Bulldog faithful an exceptional opportunity to show their heartfelt pride in supporting areas across MSU, including academic colleges, schools, programs and athletics.”
The event’s powerful social media presence reached a large audience thanks to numerous online volunteers. Through the website, hailstategiving.com, 12,498 visits were recorded during the 48-hour period. In addition, the hashtag #DawgsDigDonors was tweeted 1,065 times, reaching over 396,010 Twitter accounts.
Efforts from MSU alumni chapters also boosted success by reaching in- and out-of-state participants, and the MSU Foundation Ambassadors student organization worked diligently to engage fellow students in philanthropy efforts.
For more information on supporting MSU with annual gifts, contact Berkery at 662-325-5975 or jberkery@foundation.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.