Diana Vangelisti (BES ’84, MA ’89) hopes other alumni will join her in supporting Waterloo on Giving Tuesday, Waterloo’s largest annual fundraising campaign.
Diana is the new chair of the University of Waterloo Alumni Council. “I am privileged to volunteer alongside other proud Waterloo alumni who are equally passionate about the University and the student experience,” says Diana. “Through gifts of time, talent and financial support, our Alumni Council members represent the 236,000 people around the world who have graduated from Waterloo since its inception in 1957.”
“Our Council members provide an important alumni perspective and voice to the Waterloo story. A key part of our work involves helping other alumni understand how investing in students builds strong communities,” says Diana. “That’s why Alumni Council members signed on to become Giving Tuesday Challenge Champions this year.”
Challenge Champions are generous members of the Waterloo campus community and beyond who make charitable gifts to inspire Waterloo alumni, parents, faculty, staff, retirees and friends to get involved in Giving Tuesday, which falls on November 29 this year.
On that day, 43 challenges will see 19 units from across campus face off against each other in friendly competition, all for the benefit of students. Some of the challenges are ‘matches’, where every dollar donated to that challenge (up to a certain amount) is matched by the Challenge Champion. Other challenges take the form of ‘unlocks’ which are awarded when a certain number of donors give, or a certain dollar amount is reached.
“Challenges are a fun way for everyone to get involved — no gift is too small, or too big!” adds Diana.
Waterloo’s first Giving Tuesday campaign launched in 2014, and in just eight years, the number of donors to the campaign has grown from just over 100 to more than 1,300 people who have donated close to $1.8 million for academic programs, scholarships, student wellness, athletics, the library, university-wide priorities, faculty priorities and other important initiatives at Waterloo.
This year, the Alumni Council members unlock challenge will award $2,500 to Student Wellness if charitable gifts from donors in 12 or more countries are received on Giving Tuesday.
“We’re inviting all Waterloo alumni – and everyone else who is passionate about education — to join the celebration,” says Diana.
