WILMINGTON — Alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of Wilmington College marshaled forces on #GivingTuesday Dec. 1 to set a record in raising $153,766 from 453 gifts in 24 hours.

This surpassed the goal of $150,000 in WC’s 150th year.

The annual, fall, single-day campaign far eclipsed 2019’s record $100,000 bounty by 54 percent. This year’s #GivingTuesday effort focused on raising funds for a trio of causes that will have an immediate impact on student life, financial aid COVID relief and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.

Matt Wahrhaftig, vice president for advancement, said the College’s emphasis for #GivingTuesday is not only to raise dollars, but also to use the day as an opportunity “to demonstrate the power and impact that philanthropy has on our campus.” He emphasized that every gift to Wilmington College matters.

Rather than camping out all day in the busy Pyle Student Center lobby as in previous years, the pandemic forced Wahrhaftig and his team to conduct this year’s #GivingTuesday virtually with promotional videos starring and produced by students as class projects, along with offering continuing encouragement as a number of donors promised to match funds raised with five-figure challenge gifts ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and totaling $40,000 as the day progressed.

Each level for total gifts achieved served to generate ever-rising enthusiasm and “unlock” additional challenge gifts.

Wahrhaftig expressed his elation for the support the College received from its many stakeholders.

“It’s hard to put into words how thankful we are to everyone who supported this effort made on behalf of our students,” he said, in praising the generosity of all those who participated. Indeed, a significant number of gifts came from faculty and staff renewing their monthly contributions for 2021, which shows a high level of commitment that’s not lost on others as they consider supporting WC.

“Our alumni and friends have witnessed the progress that is being made at the College — and they’re excited by it,” he said. “They hear the stories that our students share, stories that invariably mention the opportunities for hands-on learning and the personal care they receive from our campus community.

“They remember that same care they received as students at WC — and they’re responding with support.”