W&L Raises More Than $2.5 Million In A Day On March 26   Washington and Lee University raised $2,556,191 in contributions to its Annual Fund on March 26 during its Give Day 2015. A final tally of contributions made by mail, online and telephone shows that 5,048 individuals gave $1,556,191, matched by an additional $1 million in challenge gifts from 80 of the donors. A year ago, W&L raised $1,892,943 from 4,703 donors to the Annual Fund in its first Give Day, a project that won the university a Grand Award for best practices in fundraising from the Council in Advancement and Support of Education’s District III. Both Give Days were unannounced publicly until 12:01 a.m. on the day of the event. Word spread during 24 hours by email, special messages on W&L’s website home page and via social media. Among this year’s contributors, 554 were first-time donors to W&L. Some 3,608 undergraduate alumni, 437 parents, 333 law alumni, 286 current students, 261 university employees and 123 friends made donations from their locations in 48 states and 28 countries. W&L is nearing completion of a $500 million campaign to increase student financial aid and faculty salaries, build and acquire new academic facilities and renovate its historic buildings, among other goals.

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