Peru, Nebraska – To celebrate the College’s 155th birthday of the first day of school at Peru State, the College and its Foundation is hosting its third annual “Peru State College Giving Day” on Thursday, October 21.

The supportive hashtag for the event is simple “PeruState155” as it correlates with the 155th year of operation as an institution of higher learning. In addition, Peru State’s first day of school was October 24, 1867.

The website for the giving day is https://givingday.peru.edu. It is live now with the giving opportunities opening at noon on October 19!

Peru State College Foundation Interim CEO, Ted L. Harshbarger notes the concepts of a giving day are simple. He stated, “The #PeruState155 Giving Day will be a day to celebrate the Bobcat family through volunteerism and philanthropy on October 19 and 20, 2022. The 24-hour online fundraising and volunteer event for Peru State will bring together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to promote the College and through philanthropy will grant opportunities for the next generation of Bobcats.

The goal for the day is to have 155 different donors and 155 different volunteers during the #PeruState155 giving day.

Funds generated during the Giving Day will be used primarily in four specific areas which include:

Project ROAR – Project ROAR is based on the idea that supporting students’ physical and mental health and well-being is vitally important. We know that getting students moving – getting them off their phones and out from behind their computer screens – is essential for their growth, their self-esteem, their ability to form healthy relationships, and their ability to learn. Project ROAR will more than double the amount of indoor recreational and athletic space on campus. It will support our current teams well, open opportunities for new teams, and make room for intramurals, pick-up games, and recreational activities that will engage all our students and provide facilities the larger community can use as well.

Greatest Needs – The College’s Foundation supports faculty, staff, and departments, as well as performances, events, and activities which support a vibrant campus culture.

Bobcat SOS (Serving Our Students) – Bobcat S.O.S. will provide Peru State students with small grants to help with temporary financial hardships that may have a long-term, negative impact on their education. Students requesting these grants will have to demonstrate their need. Every donation to this fund will have an immediate impact on our students’ lives and help them to continue their education at Peru State.

What You Love – Donors will have an opportunity to designate their gift to an area on campus that means the most to them.

The Foundation has received a challenge funding opportunity. A very generous donor is offering to contribute $25,000 if the Giving Day raises that amount or more during the 24-hour period.

Student groups on campus are already making plans to be a part of the Peru State College Giving Day. There has been a challenge established that if the various groups total either 155 in number or 155 hours of service that $155 will be donated to the Foundation for the greatest need.

Some of the activities that students undertook last year were:

The Peru Student Athlete Association (PASA) hosted a week-long competition between its athletic teams while encouraging each team to try to secure at least 155 personal care or winter-related items. All the donations will be given to Project Response and SENCA.

Campus Activities Board (CAB) participated in the Bowling for Boobs in Nebraska City that evening while the Peru Student Education Association read to the Peru Daycare. The Peru State Catholic Union planted a tree.

All Bobcat alumni and friends are encouraged to mark October 19-20 on their calendars and join the Giving Day movement by supporting their favorite Peru State cause. It is more than just a day. It is a movement designed to inspire and unite the Bobcat family to give to the institution they love.

“When Bobcats join together, they make a mighty roar,” said Harshbarger. “This collaborative day of giving amplifies the impact donors can make for Peru State. We hope to recruit members of the Bobcat family to volunteer to serve as Bobcat Ambassadors and help promote the day of giving to friends, colleagues, and family.”

What is a Giving Day Ambassador? 
Giving Day Ambassadors have a simple, yet particularly important mission – spread the word about #PeruState155 Giving Day to your social media networks, friends, family, and former classmates. You will have access to content, images, graphics and more to utilize in your posts. You can also request a list of your former classmates, too!

What do I do? 
Wondering what to write? We have you covered! The Giving Day Ambassador Toolkit provides easily customizable, click, and paste social media posts and graphics for you to use, as well as a communication timeline (we will send you reminder emails along the way). Your role as a Bobcat Ambassador helps build the #PeruState154 Giving Day movement through actively sharing, recruiting new Giving Day Ambassadors, and encouraging others to participate in and donate on #PeruState155 Giving Day.

How do I sign up? 
It is easy! Just contact the Foundation at 402-872-2304 or email your willingness to help at pscfoundation@peru.edu. We will send you information on how you can assist us in the #PeruState155 Giving Day!

For more information on the Giving Day and/or to give, please go to: https://www.peru.edu/foundation/givingday

Find. Some. Way. To. Give. On. October. 19-20. 2022!

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