A day of thanks
University of Brighton students took part in a mass ‘thank you’ day to mark the work of philanthropists around the world who donate to benefit their learning experience.
The first-ever Student Engagement and Philanthropy Day involved students covering a wall with messages of gratitude and good wishes, a Twitter campaign to get #brightonthanks trending, and video interviews with beneficiaries and staff on what giving means to them. Students also telephoned donors and supporters to personally thank them.
The university and 100 other educational institutions around the world took part in the initiative which was organised by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.
It was run through CASE’s Affiliated Student Advancement Programme to recognise and celebrate financial and voluntary support that university staff, students and societies have received from hundreds of generous alumni and friends.
Mrs Sam Davies, Director of Development and Alumni at the University of Brighton, said philanthropic support had become vital for the smooth running of universities worldwide: “We spend a lot of time and effort appropriately thanking donors on behalf of the university, but today it was the students’ and other beneficiaries’ chance to say thank you. Through the act of saying thank you, we were able to raise awareness amongst the student body about philanthropy and hopefully they will remember how they were helped once they are alumni themselves.”
A University of Brighton student who was recently awarded a travel grant said: “I was on top of the world when I was awarded the travel fund bursary. The bursary meant that I could make my trip a reality. The act of looking is the basis of my practise and being given the opportunity to go out into the world and experience new sights and sounds was so exciting. This trip was of immense benefit to my work and development as an artist and that would not have happened without your donations. Thank you for your support!”
