WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Athletics benefited from the generosity of many during the university's fifth-annual Purdue Day of Giving on Wednesday.
The result was $1.68 million, the eighth-most among all campus units, from 1,510 gifts (a department record) in the online, social-media-driven event. In comparison, Purdue Athletics received 1,210 donations in 2017 and 778 in 2016.
More than 100 department staff members made a donation on Purdue Day of Giving, with some giving multiple times, as well as a number of current student-athletes.
"A sincere thanks to everyone for coming together and making the Purdue Day of Giving a great success for the athletics department," vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics Mike Bobinski said. "On behalf of our student-athletes and staff, we really appreciate all those many people who made a gift and/or took the time to encourage others to participate."
The university as a whole raised a record $37.6 million from 18,640 donations in 24 hours to claim, for the fourth year running, the record for most dollars raised for higher education through a single-day campaign.
The dollar total surpasses last year's $28.2 million by 33 percent. This year's giving day - tabbed "Make Your Mark" - also set Purdue records for number of donations received, surpassing last year's 15,181 gifts.
Contributions came in from all 50 states, 58 countries and 156 student organizations.