UConn Gives 2021 Beats Previous Totals
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UConn Gives 2021 was an overwhelming success. Together, 5,148 members of UConn Nation raised $713,631, an increase of more than $300,000 over 2019.
UConn Gives 2021 highlighted 128 projects that included scholarships, student groups, athletics, and academic and research programs, allowing supporters to choose how to direct their gifts. Generous donors stepped up to offer 11 matches and 12 challenges, playing an important role in this year’s success by inspiring donors to take action while making an even greater impact.
Among these challenges was the 2021 Leaderboard Challenge, which was enhanced when a member of UConn Nation raised their hand to double the challenge, providing a total donation of $18,000 to the top three projects based on donor counts.
This year’s top project was the Bill Servedio Scholarship Fund, which supports students in UConn’s Sport Management Program by offsetting costs associated with professional learning such as internships and professional conferences. More than 630 people donated to this project.
“As donors, the impact of future internship placements will be enhanced because of this new funding source,” says Servedio, who launched UConn’s Sport Management Program more than 30 years ago. “I am indebted to all who support my vision of keeping the internship as a critical component of the learning experience.”
“UConn Gives was fun and energizing as our community came together to support Dr. Servedio and student development and learning in the Sport Management Program,” says Danielle DeRosa ’09 (CLAS), ’16 MS, clinical instructor in the Sport Management Program. DeRosa notes that the project was put together by a team from the Sport Management Program that also included Jennifer McGarry, professor; Leah Ward ’06 (ED), ’09 MA, program administrator; and current student Kess Elmore.
Other top projects of UConn Gives 2021 include Master Gardeners are Growing for Tomorrow, which supports the Master Gardener Fund; and the Samantha Calzone Scholarship, which provides support to undergraduates in Animal Science who are members of the equestrian teams and is named in memory of Samantha Calzone ’18 (CAHNR).
UConn’s commitment to providing an exceptional education to our students has remained a constant during these uncertain times, and we are deeply grateful to the generous donors who offered their support through UConn Gives 2021.