Thursday, February 16 is UF’s fifth annual Gator Nation Giving Day, when University of Florida alumni, students, faculty, staff, families and friends worldwide all get a chance to Stand Up & Holler #AllForTheGators!
One thing I’ve learned from my travels around the state is that Gators are passionate ambassadors for the Gator Nation. I see it everywhere in the pride our faculty and staff take in their work, the way they like to break out that orange and blue, and the family bonds that unite Gators wherever they are.
I’ve got to say, it’s great to be a Florida Gator!
Giving Day is a celebration, a chance to unite our voices by showing support for UF and all the research, education and outreach that make a positive impact on our state, nation and world.
The University-wide goal is 27,000 gifts in 24 hours, and just as it has every year, UF/IFAS will play a big part in reaching that goal.
Through UF’s land-grant mission, IFAS touches the lives of more people around the state than any other part of the University. Whether they received their degrees from CALS, benefit from UF/IFAS scientific research, rely on their county Extension office for educational programs, or have fond memories of summers spent at 4-H camps, hundreds of thousands of people each year benefit from the teaching, research and Extension work of UF/IFAS.
During last year’s event, we received 1,000 gifts for programs across our mission areas. We’re looking to do even better this year.
You can give gifts of any amount to any UF fund during Gator Nation Giving Day. This year we are highlighting even more giving opportunities, so you can support UF/IFAS Extension wherever it affects you the most, whether statewide programs or your friendly neighborhood Extension office.
YOUR COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE
A gift to your UF/IFAS Extension office results in positive change that you can see in your own community, including 4-H programs for youth, lawn and garden support from local Master Gardener Volunteers, tools and resources for local growers, improved natural resource conservation strategies, healthy living skills for families in nutrition and finances, and much more. |
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FLORIDA 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
When you give a gift to Florida 4-H, you help reach more than 200,000 young people statewide. From agriculture to art, civic engagement to healthy living, and photography to robotics, 4-H’ers discover their potential and become the leaders we need now more than ever. Florida 4-H Youth Development Challenge Your gift to 4-H will also help unlock additional scholarships for youth to attend summer 2023 4-H leadership programs. For every 40 gifts, the Florida 4-H Foundation is unlocking $400 in scholarship funds. |
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4-H CAMPS
4-H camping is where youth discover new passions, strengthen their independence and connect with their peers to be effective team members and develop as leaders. Your gift will help improve facilities and resources for kids at Florida’s 4-H camps this summer. Dr. Marilyn Norman, retired Florida 4-H State Program Leader and National 4-H Hall of Fame member, is matching every dollar raised for camps up to $10,000 total!
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FLORIDA PROJECT LEARNING TREE
Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning education program that uses the study of forests and trees to increase children’s understanding of the environment and the actions they can take to conserve it. In Florida, PLT is an Extension program of the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences. Langdale Challenge for Florida PLT The Langdale Company is proud to support Project Learning Tree and is matching gifts up to $2,000 total. |
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EXTENSION UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIPS
Gifts to this fund go to the Extension Internship Program, a collaboration with the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and part of Senior VP Scott Angle’s promise to enrich the educational opportunities for CALS students. Jimmy & Benita Boyd Challenge for Extension Internships Jimmy Boyd and Benita Boyd will match all gifts to the Extension Internship Program up to $3,000 to double your impact for student interns in 2023. |
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FLORIDA MASTER GARDENER LEGACY ENDOWMENT
What do school gardens, honeybee demonstrations, and an agriculture history garden have in common? They are all Master Gardener Volunteer projects funded by the MGV Legacy Award! This program recognizes county Master Gardener Volunteer groups with support for new or continuing educational projects. Your gift grows the funding available for more of these outstanding community projects for years to come. |
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FLORIDA MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM ENDOWMENT
For more than 20 years, the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) has promoted awareness, understanding and respect for Florida’s natural world. Extension-trained Florida Master Naturalists share their knowledge and foster principles of respect for our natural world. Your gift will help to train more Master Naturalists, develop curriculum resources and protect natural Florida through education. |
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GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEMS INSTITUTEThe Global Food Systems Institute (GFSI) Food and Nutrition Security Fund supports activities that improve the availability, affordability, and accessibility of nutrient-rich foods to vulnerable people in low- and middle-income countries, particularly pregnant and lactating women and children. Your gift can feed a mother 2 eggs a day for her child’s first thousand days or provide a student with a travel scholarship to gain first-hand experience about global hunger, food, and nutrition insecurity in low- and middle-income countries. |
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FLORIDA SEA GRANT KARL HAVENS ENDOWMENT
Karl E. Havens served as director of Florida Sea Grant from 2007 until his unexpected passing in 2019. A professor of aquatic ecology at the University of Florida, Karl was a leading international expert on aquatic research, management, education and outreach. Your gift will help to permanently endow this fund in Karl’s memory and fuel Florida Sea Grant’s continued work to better understand and protect our most precious resources – our water, coastlines and ecosystems. |
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IFAS UNRESTRICTED FUND
If you just want to show your support for UF/IFAS, you can give to the IFAS unrestricted fund. UF/IFAS is committed to advancing science for 20 million Floridians and beyond. Training the next generation, assisting communities in the wake of natural disasters, protecting water resources and fighting citrus greening are just a few of the ways UF/IFAS is making a difference. Your gift to UF/IFAS provides critical resources to help us keep making a difference. |
You can see a full list of giving opportunities for UF/IFAS Teaching, Research and Extension on the Gator Giving Day website.
This is going to be a great Gator Nation Giving Day, and I’m excited to see just how much energy Gators everywhere are going to generate when we stand up and holler for UF!
To Stand Up & Holler on social media, be sure to use #AllForTheGators