After a final gift from North Dakota, DePaul officially received gifts from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, unlocking a $50,000 scholarship from a donor who wished to remain anonymous. (Image courtesy of Sarag Myksin)
This year’s Blue Demon Challenge set a goal of raising $1,000,000 within 24 hours. Members of the DePaul community both near and far rose to the challenge – and they crushed it.
On Jan. 23, DePaul raised a total of $2,006,201 from 2,439 gifts – making it the biggest Blue Demon Challenge in history. The university received gifts from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, which unlocked a $50,000 scholarship from an anonymous donor.
By noon, faculty and staff had contributed more than 300 gifts, unlocking $20,000 from an anonymous faculty member in the College of Computing and Digital Media. Faculty and staff continued to give throughout the day, unlocking a second challenge that resulted in an additional $5,000 gift from an anonymous donor.
The Student Donor Challenge also was a success. Students contributed more than 150 gifts, which unlocked $25,000 in scholarship funds.
Every one of DePaul’s 10 schools and colleges unlocked their main challenges. Athletics also unlocked 16 challenges – including two each for the Fund for Men’s Basketball, Fund for Women’s Basketball and Fund for Men’s Tennis.
“The success of the Blue Demon Challenge speaks volumes about our DePaul community and the widespread commitment to our mission and vision. Thank you to every single person who made a gift during the Blue Demon Challenge and to the many donors who laid the foundation by making matching gifts,” says DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban. “Your generosity is inspiring. Because of you, DePaul continues to stay true to its Catholic, Vincentian and urban mission, giving people of all backgrounds access to a high-quality college education. I also would like to thank the Office of Advancement and the many volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the Blue Demon Challenge such a resounding success.”