On February 20, things are gonna get loud in the Gator Nation, as University of Florida alumni, students, faculty, staff, families and friends Stand Up & Holler for the 2nd annual Gator Nation Giving Day.
Stand Up & Holler is a 24-hour fundraising event, calling on Gators everywhere to come together to support UF and all its areas of positive impact in our state, nation and world. Gifts can be directed to the school, department, research initiative, campus activity, UF program or any area of UF that means the most to you.
Through UF’s land-grant mission, more people are touched by UF/IFAS than any other part of the University. Whether they received their degree from CALS, benefit from UF/IFAS scientific research, rely on their county Extension office for useful and unbiased information, or have fond memories of summers spent at 4-H camps, tens of thousands of people each year benefit from the teaching, research and Extension work of UF/IFAS.
UF Gators will be everywhere on social media, with messages, photos and live video feeds about what the University of Florida means to them. Follow along and share your story using #AllForTheGators. There will also be live fundraising events on the UF campus and at Gator Clubs across the state and the U.S. Many fundraising goals come with challenges that match gifts, and there will be leaderboards posted to keep a running tally of giving totals.
Gator Nation Giving Day is one day when we can all get together and, in the spirit of Mr. Two Bits, “stand up and holler” for UF/IFAS.
Last year, UF/IFAS received more than $114,000 in gifts during Gator Nation Giving Day. The UF/IFAS unrestricted fund received 64 gifts totaling more than $6,500; $14,000 in gifts were received for 4-H camp development.
You can give to any UF fund during Gator Nation Giving Day, and there will be many opportunities to support UF/IFAS teaching, research and Extension. Within UF/IFAS Extension, we’ll be featuring several giving options, which will be boosted by challenges from generous donors.
EXTENSION UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIPS
The UF/IFAS Extension Internship Program is a collaboration between the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and UF/IFAS Extension. Working with county Extension faculty, CALS students deliver educational programming throughout Florida. The internship program has given CALS students like 2019 animal sciences major Cassidy Dossin the opportunity to support community programs while exploring a career in Extension: “My internship with UF/IFAS Extension in the summer of 2018 was pivotal in shaping my college experience and gave me direction in my pursuit of a career after graduation,” she writes. Cassidy is now an Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Clay County.
Jimmy & Benita Boyd Challenge for Extension Internships
Gifts to Extension Undergraduate Internships will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $3,000 by Mr. Jimmy and Ms. Benita Boyd.
Florida 4-H Camps
At Florida’s three 4-H camps, confidence grows and Florida’s youth discover new passions, strengthen their independence and connect with their peers to be effective team members and develop as leaders.
4-H Camp Cherry Lake—Madison
Camp Cherry Lake in Madison County has provided a place for 4-H kids to belong, connect and grow since 1937. Today, 27 counties summer camp at Cherry Lake, new state council officers train here, and delegations from South Florida will stop in on their way to Tallahassee for 4-H Day at the Capitol. Your gift to 4-H Camp Cherry Lake makes an impact for the youth that will call a camp cabin home in 2020.
$1K Matching Challenge for Camp Cherry Lake
Gifts will be matched 1:1 up to $1,000 by Florida 4-H Foundation Board Member, Mr. Morris Steen and his wife Mrs. Judy Steen.
4-H Camp Cloverleaf—Lake Placid
Nestled on the banks of Lake Francis in Highlands County, Camp Cloverleaf provides campers a place to belong, connect and grow in south central Florida. Cloverleaf welcomes campers each summer and is home to Gator Adventures Camp. Your gift to Camp Cloverleaf makes an impact for youth who will experience a summer of exciting and educational outdoor adventures in 2020.
$1K Matching Challenge for Camp Cloverleaf
Gifts will be matched 1:1 up to $1,000 by Dr. Marilyn Norman, retired Florida 4-H State Program Leader and recent National 4-H Hall of Fame inductee.
4-H Camp Timpoochee—Niceville
Camp Timpoochee brings science to life in a living laboratory providing marine and forest classrooms on the shore of Choctawhatchee Bay. Hosting marine science camps, educator workshops and environmental education programs, your gift to 4-H Camp Timpoochee helps provide campers and visitors a place to discover, learn and grow in 2020.
$1K Matching Challenge for Camp Timpoochee
Gifts will be matched 1:1 up to $1,000 by Dr. Marilyn Norman, retired Florida 4-H State Program Leader and recent National 4-H Hall of Fame inductee.
NATURE COAST BIOLOGICAL STATION K-12 PROGRAM
Our Motto: Conservation through education. The UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station in Cedar Key provides immersive field lab experiences for K-12 students. Students use science to explore and explain watersheds, estuarine and marine ecology, and the organisms that call the Nature Coast home. Your gift will help students discover the wonders of the Nature Coast and Florida’s unique environments while fostering a lifetime of science exploration and environmental awareness.
Pace Challenge for Kids in the Nature Coast
Gifts made in support of teaching K-12 students at the Nature Coast Biological Station will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $2,000 by Doug and Julie Pace.
UF/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 Gator Nation Giving Day opportunities for UF/IFAS Teaching, Research and Extension at http://bit.ly/suahifas .
SPREAD THE WORD
There are also plenty of opportunities to spread the word about Gator Nation Giving Day. The Stand Up & Holler website has information about how you can be a social media ambassador and encourage fellow Gators, UF supporters and UF/IFAS supporters to join in the fun.
Go to http://givingday.ufl.edu to learn more about Gator Nation Giving Day—and put February 20 on your calendar. It’s going to be a wild day!
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