Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

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SMWC 10th Woods Giving Day a Success

Saint Mary of the Woods, IN (02/06/2025) — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) held the 10th Woods Giving Day - WGD-X- on Tuesday, February 4, in the Woods Student Center in the Rooney Center. The effort brought 1,266 donors, raising $1,014,407, the most ever for Woods Giving Day. The day was filled with excitement from students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends about this historic effort.

Catherine Mickey Saunders '98, vice president for advancement, is thrilled with the support from students, alums, faculty, staff and friends of the College. "This was a tremendous response from The Woods community. I am so thankful for everyone's support. Their involvement created a remarkable energy that lasted the entire day."

Like last year, contributions made starting December 1 were counted towards Woods Giving Day, with the event culminating the fundraising focus. This year, generous donors pledged Early Giving Challenges to help the efforts. By reaching 600 donors by January 31, Mary Kay Campbell Watson '69, Al Watson and Nancy Payonk '81 donated $75,000, and by reaching $500,000 in donations by January 31, Anita Tiberi McMahon '61 donated $250,000.

More than 45 students volunteered during the day to make phone calls to donors, as did faculty and staff. Community members stopped by to show their support, including Jack Jaeger, director of the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative; Brian Dyer, senior vice president and trust officer at The Hometown Savings Bank; Kristin Craig, president and CEO of Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce; and Beth Tevlin, president and CEO of the Wabash Valley Community Foundation.

ShayLynne Singer, an SMWC sophomore who is a psychology and kinesiology major, was excited to be a part of Woods Giving Day, "I volunteered last year, and I really enjoyed the conversations with people. I like to speak with alumni about how things are today at SMWC compared to when they went here." She went on about the donors, "They still care about what is going on here and want to help make it better."

Tonya Sawyer '07, Ph.D., chair of the business and leadership department, had 22 students from two classes, sport communications and sport finance, make calls as a part of their class. "Classes are learning about communication and fundraising, and today was a great way to have hands-on experience." As an alumnus of the College, she embraces the unique opportunity to help connect her students to The Woods. "It is important to give back to your institution because of what your institution gave to you. It is lifelong lessons, it is the connections, it is the relationships, it is the networking."

For Griffin Olson, a junior sport management major and one of Sawyer's students, this was his third year volunteering at Woods Giving Day to make calls. "I know how vital Woods Giving Day is for the Woods Fund. It helps students like me afford to attend The Woods."

Sponsors included Bright Ideas in Broad Ripple and Culver's of Terre Haute, providing incentives for donors.

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