Auburn University’s Tiger Giving Day benefits 31 projects

Auburn University’s recent 24-hour, online fundraising event, known as Tiger Giving Day, attracted more than 2,400 Auburn University alumni and friends, whose giving benefited the 31 projects featured. Of these projects, 23 were fully funded, some by as much as 310 percent. The remaining projects all achieved at least 50 percent of their goal. All projects can be viewed at www.TigerGiving.org.

One of the unique projects featured was the planned Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center’s effort to purchase a custom, Auburn-themed Steinway piano. Donors who gave more than $50 were given the opportunity to “Sign the Steinway”—the chance to use a blue or orange pen to permanently sign their name on the piano.

According to the center’s executive director, Christopher Heacox, “Tiger Giving Day is the epitome of the Auburn Family coming together to support vital projects and programs to support our students, faculty and community. Without their support, projects like ‘Sign the Steinway’ would not be possible.”

Another project to benefit the university and the community was an appeal by the Davis Arboretum to install new lighting throughout the grounds for nighttime use.

“I am so grateful to be able to be part of this worthwhile cause and cannot wait to see the completed project,” said JoAnn Gamble, who made a gift to support the project.

Students also appreciated donors’ generosity.

“Tiger Giving Day reminds me that I would not be able to have the incredible on-campus academic experiences Auburn provides without the support of our alumni, friends and community members,” said Wallis Stanfield, graduate student in public administration. “The turnout for support of these projects is truly inspiring, and I am so grateful to be a current student who can see the benefits of the generosity of members of the Auburn Family.”

Tiger Giving Day enabled the following projects:

• The Special Collections and Archives Department of the Auburn University Libraries can purchase equipment to digitize outdated reel-to-reel tapes, including a lecture series by notable speakers in the 60s and 70s, including Muhammad Ali and Vincent Price. (97 donors, $9,845 raised)

• An Auburn-themed Steinway piano will be funded for the new Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center. (294 donors, $38,540 raised)

• Scholarships for future students, provided by local Auburn Clubs through the Auburn Alumni Association, can now be provided. (456 donors, $108,825 raised)

• “The Lost Birds” sculpture on the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art grounds now has a permanent home. (74 donors, $8,530 raised)

• Adaptive training and conditioning equipment will be provided to Auburn’s Wheelchair Basketball team. (188 donors, $20,947 raised)

• The Harrison School of Pharmacy is able to educate and train first-responders about handling accidental opioid overdoses with life-saving Naloxone, a reversing drug. (150 donors, $10,290 raised)

• Long-distance fenced runs can be built for dogs in the Canine Performance Sciences program. (158 donors, $21,880 raised)

• Fire suits, water bags, and other needed equipment can be supplied to students in the Forest Fire Management class in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. (132 donors, $52,047 raised)

• The Campus Kitchens Project can purchase supplies needed to package and deliver food to those in need. (156 donors, $8,386)

• The College of Sciences and Mathematics’ Southeastern Center of Robotics Education (SCORE) can secure a large-scale, 3D printer for K-12 students and educators. (86 donors, $8,000 raised)

• The College of Liberal Arts can send 11 high school students to their annual Auburn University Brain Camp to learn about neuroscience. (76 donors, $6,050)

• Biosystems engineering students can continue to build and compete in the International Quarter Scale Tractor Meet. (53 donors, $5,000 raised)

• The Harbert College of Business can offer financial assistance to future global leaders through study-abroad experiences. (164 donors, $10,000 raised)

• The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture can offset costs for their annual Pumpkin Carve. (113 donors, $8,094)

• Students in the Office of Inclusion and Diversity can get the professional-level media equipment they need. (60 donors, $4,460 raised)

• At least 45 high schoolers will be able to attend the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s summer camp. (281 donors, $24,000 raised)

• The Auburn Student Alumni Association is working to complete a permanent endowment to provide scholarships to rising SAA seniors. (62 donors, $4,250 raised)

• Program fees for 10 students will be covered for Plainsman’s Prep, a camp for incoming first-year students pursuing majors requiring substantial science and mathematics courses. (24 donors, $2,430)

• The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) can add needed enhancements to their new home at Sunny Slope. (33 donors, $3,580 raised)

• The Equestrian Club can purchase a new reining horse for practice and competition. (111 donors, $11,585)

• The College of Human Sciences can assist Human Sciences students who meet a short-term financial hardship through their Students First Hardship Fund. (50 donors, $6,770 raised)

• Alabama 4-H Science School, through the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, can update their exhibits and equipment. (76 donors, $5,270 raised)

• The Gene Machine can continue to fight cancer in medically underserved areas. (227 donors, $12,000 raised)

• Walkers can have a safe, well-lit place at night with in-ground LED lighting at the Davis Arboretum. (135 donors, $7,562 raised)

• Some equipment to research and create a precision irrigation system for Alabama farmers can be purchased. (126 donors, $8,500 raised)

• Test sample equipment can be provided to help research a safe, cost-effective initiative to bring safe drinking water to people in developing nations. (197 donors, $12,820)

• Eagle Eye TV can purchase current broadcast industry technology to create a more beneficial learning lab. (75 donors, $4,365)

• Funds were raised towards the purchase of a self-contained, portable Tiger Babies nursing station for Auburn football games and other sporting events. (137 donors, $14,620)

• Supplies to create healing home gardens for cancer survivors can be purchased. (148 donors, $12,195)

• More laptop chargers can be provided to students studying at the Ralph B. Draughon Library. (86 donors, $3,784 raised)

• Pre-service elementary teachers can learn to integrate technology effectively in their teaching with Ozobots. (128 donors, $10,150)

All projects can continue to receive funding through a donation page at https://aub.ie/Family. Please specify which project the donation is intended for in the “Other” field.