On May 26 and 27, The University of Texas at Dallas community will celebrate Comets Giving Days, the annual fundraising event that gives Comets an opportunity to help the people and campus programs that have had the biggest impact on their lives.
For the second year in a row, the event will last 1,969 minutes in honor of UT Dallas’ founding year. Last year, thousands of alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends raised over $1.1 million for causes across campus. This year, the University aims to surpass that total through more than 3,000 gifts. More than 80 campus groups will participate this year, a significant increase from the 27 groups that joined the first Comets Giving Day in 2017.
“Year after year, donations made during Comets Giving Days have transformed the lives of students, faculty, patients and community members,” said Kyle Edgington PhD’13, vice president for development and alumni relations. “As this event grows, so does the impact our supporters have on UT Dallas and North Texas.”
“Year after year, donations made during Comets Giving Days have transformed the lives of students, faculty, patients and community members. As this event grows, so does the impact our supporters have on UT Dallas and North Texas.”
Kyle Edgington PhD’13, vice president for development and alumni relations
Challenges and matching gift opportunities will boost individual donations to specific causes across the University. These include dollar-for-dollar matches happening during “power hours” over the course of the event. Supporters can learn about ways to multiply their donations and track the progress of their favorite campus groups through online leaderboards.
This year’s event also will include a food drive to support the Comet Cupboard, UT Dallas’ food pantry dedicated to helping students in need. Over the last year, the Comet Cupboard saw a dramatic increase in distributions as a result of COVID-19. During 2020, the Comet Cupboard distributed over 49,000 items to UT Dallas students, up from 14,000 the year before. Items donated to the Comet Cupboard from now until May 27 will count as a Comets Giving Days donation, making donors eligible to win extra funds for any area of campus they choose. Direct donations of food can be dropped off at the UT Dallas Police Department until May 25. On May 26 and 27, donations can be delivered to Lot G, where Comets will create a mural with collected cans of food.
Online events and social challenges also will be featured during the event, including bingo at 5:30 p.m. on May 26 on Microsoft Teams. A final countdown, which will be held at 6:49 p.m. on May 27 on Facebook, will give supporters a chance to win bonus funds for their campus groups.
Become a Digital Ambassador
Digital ambassadors help spread the word about Comets Giving Days through social media and encourage others to support the causes they care about most at UT Dallas. This year, ambassadors have the chance to win special prizes, including joining UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson for a virtual coffee meeting. Ambassadors can make a difference by:
- Posting on social media.
- Sharing messages and encouraging alumni and friends to support UT Dallas.
- Participating in exclusive Comets Giving Day challenges.
- Designating additional funds to favorite campus entities.
Visit the Comets Giving Days ambassadors page for more information and to sign up.