For some, it was like any other day. For the LMU community, March 19, 2019, was a game changer — a day that broke records and set new standards. March 19 was LMU Day of Giving, the sixth in its history and one that engaged more than 4,000 alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff and students around the globe, primarily through social media.
The fact that only 24 hours were needed to raise more than $936,000 for nearly every area of campus is remarkable. Perhaps even more compelling are the stories behind the gifts. This incredible day took a village to make happen — one passionate, grateful, loud collective roar from the LMU community. Here are some of those stories.
Loyola Law School
“With student loans, my gift was small, but I wanted to give back to something that gave me so much. I gave because I am grateful that Loyola continues to offer a part-time J.D. program to people like me who need to continue working while attending law school. I gave because Dean Michael Waterstone and the entire Loyola faculty, including alumni of the evening program such as Professor Susan Bakhshian, are personally invested in the success of the program and students like me. I gave because I know that the Evening Division alumni who came before me made a gift to the scholarship that helped make my student loans a bit more manageable.”
Jane Davidson Law ’19
Athletics
“My wife and I met and got to know beach volleyball player Bo Culo, who introduced us to her exciting sport. When we found out that beach volleyball was a relatively new sport and underfunded, with the least number of scholarships of all WCC sports at LMU, we wanted to do something to help. In addition to giving, I put together a cover letter and emailed it to approximately 100 relatives and friends, including LMU students who I mentored over the years, asking them to support beach volleyball on the LMU Day of Giving.”
Frank G. Shellock ‘76
Tweets
Attending @LoyolaMarymount was a game changer for me: a mission focused on the encouragement of learning, education of the whole person & service of faith and promotion of justice. Go Lions & please support! Maria S. Salinas ’87, LMU Board of Regents, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
I’m giving to #OneLMUDrive for SOE scholarships in honor of our late & beloved Dean, Father Koppes. HUGE thank you to my colleague @VictoriaGraf1! LMU faculty believes in our graduate student scholars. Lauren Casella, Ed.D., assistant professor, educational leadership
Only 2 hours left to donate in #OneLMUDrive! LMU helped me become the woman I am today and has impacted and shaped so many lives. It’s always an honor to support my alma mater @LoyolaMarymount and my favorite president @LMUSnyder! LaShyra “Lash” Nolen ’17, Harvard Medical ’23
By the Numbers
• 4,290 gifts from people in 46 states
• All six academic units raised more dollars than last year
• Athletics saw a 307% increase in dollars raised compared to last year
• BCLA saw a 1,200% increase in dollars raised compared to last year
• 198% increase in average pledge amount ($218.19 per gift, up from $73.13 per gift last year)
Tracy Mlakar ’97 is director of advancement communications. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts.