A campus tradition—with a few honks along the way

UB Giving Day once again brought the university community together in a big way — raising more than $600,000 from over 2,000 donors during the April 15–16 event, marking one of the most successful years to date.

Each year, UB Giving Day serves as a powerful reminder of the collective impact of the UB community. In fact, about 20% of all UB donors in a given year make their gifts during this 24-hour celebration — supporting the schools, programs and causes that matter most to them.

“UB Giving Day continues to show what’s possible when our community comes together with a shared purpose,” says Vice President for University Advancement Kathleen Heckman. “From first-time donors to longtime supporters, every gift reflects a belief in our students and their potential, and that collective impact continues to grow year after year.”

Just as important, UB Giving Day continues to engage students and helps build a deeper understanding of philanthropy and its direct impact on their experience.

Of course, UB Giving Day wouldn’t be complete without a little fun along the way.

Numerous challenges and matches helped create an atmosphere of friendly competition, while increasing the number of donors and dollars, and students took part in a campus scavenger hunt in partnership with Student Life, searching high and low across North and South campuses for hidden plush buffaloes — and proudly sharing their finds on social media.

And this year, the UB community also embraced a new tradition: Adopt-a-Goose.

“Adopt-a-Goose was a fun way to celebrate a shared UB experience while inviting more people to take part in Giving Day,” says Kaley Donaldson, who leads the university’s Giving Day efforts. “The creativity behind the names was incredible, and it helped create a sense of connection and momentum throughout the campaign.”

In a lighthearted nod to some of campus’s most recognizable (and persistent) residents, donors who made qualifying gifts had the chance to name a Canada goose. The results did not disappoint.

With 138 UB geese adopted, among the standout names are: Fowl Pachino, Goose Lightning, Professor Reginald Beaksworth III, Esq., Tom Honks and Beak on Weck, proving that UB pride comes with a healthy sense of humor.

From meaningful gifts to memorable moments, and more than a few well-named geese, UB Giving Day once again showcased the generosity, creativity and spirit that define the UB community. Although UB Giving Day has ended—and the chance to name a campus goose has flown for the year—gifts to UB are welcome anytime.

Visit buffalo.edu/giving to learn more.