Wilmington College jumped to a head start on the upcoming Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3) by illustrating the importance of giving at the institution. Last week, WC students, faculty and staff suddenly saw green bows placed throughout the College, indicating the impact of gifts on iconic facilities, campus fixtures, scholarships and even people they see every day.
PICTURED ABOVE: The Gateway sign and fixtures at the entrance to the College comprise a gift from the family of alumnus and former trustee Sidney Mishkin.
Brittany Chrisman, assistant director of the Annual Fund & leadership giving outreach, said the 300 large and small green bows are designed to “create a visual representation of how much in our everyday lives on campus was made possible by donors. The visual impact of green bows blooming all over campus showcases the generosity and spirit of giving that defines our community and makes Wilmington College so special. Wilmington College is 'Green with Gratitude.'"
A green bow was placed on the president's antique desk, which was a gift from Board Chair Daniel Buckley.
Indeed, the Campus Gateway was adorned with a big green bow, as was a Case tractor at the Academic Farm, a championship pedigree horse at the Equine Center, the president’s antique desk and the “Who Sends Me? statue. A green bow at the Student One Stop Center represented all the donor-funded, endowed scholarships donors have funded.
The Simon Goodman Memorial Carillon was gifted to the College in the early 1960s; so was the newly opened Buren Center for Business in Bailey Hall. Benches, trees, books and even some professors’ salaries (via endowed chairs) all manifest the generosity of individuals, businesses and foundations.
The statue on campus, "Who Sends Thee," depicts local Quaker Isaac and Sarah Harvey traveling to Washington to petition President Lincoln for the emancipation of enslaved persons in America. The green ribbon represents the statue's donation to the College from funds raised through the Friends community.
The College’s Advancement Office drove home the point in a fun way by staging a combination trivia contest/scavenger hunt involving the scores of green bows prevalent throughout the campus. Indeed, some 60 employees participated in the game and 32 made gifts during the initiative. A sample trivia question posed, “What was donated to the library?” One respondent said mounted deer antlers. It’s true a wayward deer several years back crashed through a window, after apparently seeing its reflection, and stormed through the main floor, losing its antlers in the process. It was a clever answer but incorrect, as the big green bow was featured on a section of books donated by the late, former English professor Lewis Marcuson.
Chrisman asked randomly selected persons on campus what gifts to the College meant the most to them. “We got responses that ranged from donor-funded scholarships, donations to the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, donations to the Quaker Cupboard, the donation of the hammocks, the sponsoring of all the classrooms in the Center for the Sciences and Agriculture and everything that has been donated to the Academic Farm,” she said.
This image of the Student One Stop Center represents all the endowed scholarships funded by donors and offered in support of students.
Students were also involved with the Giving Tuesday preview activities in a competition for the best social media post involving a selfie photo and a gifted entity on campus. The student who won the social media challenge, senior Castoridae Caplinger, spoke of being especially grateful for the donation of the table and chairs outside of the Office of Student Affairs as a regular meeting area for friends. “This is our favorite donated item because it has been where we’ve eaten lunches, done last-minute homework, and shared so many laughs,” Caplinger said. “I hope everyone on campus has a spot like this.”
WC’s annual Giving Tuesday campaign set a $100,000 goal as the Advancement Office enlists support from alumni and friends.
The new Buren Center for Business in Bailey Hall was made possible by a gift from alumnus Tim Buren.
Bane Welker's gift of a Case tractor is used by the College's agriculture program.
In the early 1960s, the family of local businessman Simon Goodman donated the 35-bell carillon featured in the Vatican's exhibit at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels.
Persons interested in WC's equine program gave the College several horses, including several with championship pedigrees.