University of Texas at Dallas supporters contributed $1.2 million through more than 3,000 gifts to causes across campus during Comets Giving Days on April 3-4. Over 150 groups participated in the event, which topped the $1 million mark for the fifth consecutive year.
Charlie W. and Pauline W. Chen, both members of the Center for Asian Studies International Advisory Council, contributed $130,00 through the Chen Family Foundation. A $100,000 commitment will establish the Charlie and Pauline Chen and Family Endowment to fund a new lecture series and related events in the center, while $30,000 will support faculty, student and operational needs.
“The Chen Family Foundation is excited to support academic exploration and fuel a dynamic platform for dialogue and discovery,” the foundation said in a prepared statement. “We believe that this program will highlight how technology and innovation within Asian studies can inspire new ideas, foster global connections and pave the way for a future where cultural understanding and technological progress go hand in hand. We believe in empowering the Center for Asian Studies and UT Dallas to navigate the digital age and use it as a bridge toward greater cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.”
An anonymous donor made this year’s largest individual gift: a $500,000 commitment to support the literature program in the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology.
“The Bass School’s literature program is very popular at our university,” said Dr. Nils Roemer, Bass School dean; the Arts, Humanities, and Technology Distinguished University Chair; director of the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies; and the Stan and Barbara Rabin Distinguished Professor in Holocaust Studies. “This gift is a significant investment in the core mission of our school and the future of the humanities at UT Dallas. I am grateful for the momentum this gift has created — not just for our success on Comets Giving Days, but for years to come.”
At a ceremonial opening breakfast to kick off Giving Days, several raffle winners were selected from among attendees to win bonus funds for their favorite causes.
Sydney Smith, an arts, technology, and emerging communication senior, was among the winners. She directed her funds to the International Center, where she works as a digital media assistant.
“I’ve seen a lot of the good that the International Center does,” Smith said. “We help make a home for international students at UT Dallas. There’s a really big international student population here, so I think the center can always use more funding.”
The most popular four-legged guest at the breakfast was Jonesy, a Labrador retriever puppy being raised by UT Dallas students as part of UTD SIT, a collegiate branch of Canine Companions, a national organization committed to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities by providing assistance dogs.
Madison Ibe, president of UTD SIT, said the group plans to use funds raised during Comets Giving Days to help with financial necessities associated with caring for the dogs.
“Our student volunteers take on the complete cost of raising the dogs, meaning everything from vet bills to toys to food and things like that,” said Ibe, a biology senior. “We’re trying to build up a good fund for bills and emergencies.”
A record number of campus groups participated in Comets Giving Days this year. One first-time group was the Women in Physics Camp, a weeklong summer camp for sixth through ninth grade boys and girls interested in mechanics, electromagnetism, rockets, optics, astronomy, engineering, planetary science and more.
“Our camp is completely free to all of our campers, and they come back year after year,” said Marissa Distin, a mathematics senior who directs the Women in Physics Camp. “Our volunteers are students and alumni of the UTeach Dallas program who are working to improve STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] education throughout our community.”
Comets Giving Days is designed to generate a breadth of support for all areas of campus, and the number of participating groups continues to grow, said Kyle Edgington PhD’13, vice president for development and alumni relations.
“When you think about these days — just 33 hours — it’s really all about the organizations that are taking part,” he said. “It’s not so much the total dollars raised – although we are so grateful for our community’s immense support – it’s really about gathering people together around the world and supporting all these great causes at our university.”
All gifts made during Comets Giving Days contributed to UT Dallas’ ongoing New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas, the goal of which is to raise $750 million for transformative opportunities for students, faculty and programs throughout UTD.