Fairmont State University Day of Giving achieves goal, raising $715,501 for campus-wide programs and initiatives on February 27

Fairmont State University held its sixth Day of Giving event on Thursday, February 27 with a goal of raising $700,000 for programs, teams, and scholarships throughout campus. During this 24-hour giving marathon, 1,686 generous donors participated with a total of $715,501 in funds raised.  

Fairmont State University Day of Giving serves as an opportunity for the Fairmont State community to come together for a single goal, while supporting the areas that matter most to them. Whether it is a scholarship fund, athletic team, student organization, or academic department, there were more than 60 different giving opportunities for donors to choose from when making a gift.  

“On behalf of the Fairmont State Foundation, I want to share our heartfelt appreciation to our donors as well as the leadership, faculty, staff, students, and other partners that held Day of Giving events, made the 24-hour livestream possible, shared our Day of Giving information, and other support that helped the Fairmont State Foundation meet this extraordinary goal in 2025,” said Dr. Anne Bolyard, President of the Fairmont State Foundation. “From the initial planning conversations to the present, the Fairmont State Foundation team has demonstrated unfailing commitment and dedication to exceeding the 2025 Day of Giving goal. Their dedication and unmatched professional expertise are deeply appreciated and embody the mission and success of our Foundation.”  

This year, Fairmont State’s five colleges raised a combined total of $99,133 in support of various academic programs and initiatives. An additional $197,558 was raised for academic scholarships.  

The College of Education, Health & Human Performance raised the most dollars for an academic unit this year, with a total of $43,443 supporting programs like the PRAXIS Test Support Fund, Outdoor Leadership, Exercise Science, and the Autism Individualized Mentoring and Support Services (AIMSS) program. The College of Business & Aviation had the most individual donors at 133, with 95 of those donors supporting the Aviation program.  

802 donors supported athletic teams and programs for a total of $247,185, with Football leading the charge at $35,089 from 101 donors, and Women’s Basketball raising $22,010 from 40 donors. An additional $14,998 was donated in support of athletic scholarships this year. Women’s Volleyball had the most donors to any athletic team this year with 143, and they earned an additional $2,250 in prizes for their program with this achievement.  

“What a great day we had on Day of Giving on February 27. To be able to raise over $250,000 in one day is amazing, and the fact that it came from over 800 donors, just shows us how much our community cares about our Fighting Falcons. Thank you to all who were able show their support,” said Greg Bamberger, Fairmont State Athletic Director. “I also want to thank everyone who was responsible for the entire day. I know months of planning was put into it by members of the University and the Foundation. The coordination and organization required to pull this event off was top shelf. These resources will be used to aid athletic scholarship support for our student-athletes and let us occasionally do something special for our student-athletes that reminds them of the fact Fairmont State is a Great Place.”     

80 prizes and matches were sponsored by generous individual and corporate donors this year.   

• William Laughlin and Lois Muto Laughlin provided matching gifts for each of the five colleges and Athletics, totaling $15,000.  
• The Mike Ross Family Foundation matched a total of $13,000 split evenly between the College of Nursing and the Falcon Surveyors student organization.  
• Gary K. and Barbara Bennett matched a total of $11,000 in gifts, supporting the Student Veteran’s Organization, the Aviation Center of Excellence, the Glenn A. Harman Accounting Excellence Award, PRAXIS Test Support Fund, and University Bands.  
• The Thrasher Group provided $3,000 to the Architecture program and $3,000 to the Engineering Technology program after challenging 15 or more Thrasher employees to make a gift to any participating area on Day of Giving.  
• Dr. Mike Davis and Alumni Association Board Chair Nick Fantasia each provided $1 to the Falcon Fund for every donor on Day of Giving.  
• Dr. Mike Davis sponsored a final-hour challenge, awarding $1,000 to the giving area with the most donors from 11 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.  
• Omni Associates sponsored the Lunch Rush Challenge this year, providing $1,000 to the giving area with the most donors between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.  
• EMCOR Services Scalise Industries sponsored a Midnight Madness challenge, offering $500 to the giving area with the most donations in the first hour of Day of Giving.  

  

Campus community members were encouraged to stop by the Falcon Center throughout the day to make a gift, try their luck at the punch-a-bunch board for prizes, sign a thank you note, and watch livestream interviews with donors and representatives from featured programs.    

“This year’s Day of Giving once again demonstrated the incredible impact we can achieve together,” said Fairmont State University President Mike Davis. “Surpassing our $700,000 goal means more scholarships, enhanced student experiences, and stronger academic and athletic programs. We extend our deepest gratitude to every donor—your generosity helps make Fairmont State a truly Great Place to Learn, Work, and Call Home.”  

Fairmont State University and the Fairmont State Foundation wish to thank all our donors, ambassadors, and the campus community for promoting and participating in the 2025 Fairmont State University Day of Giving.