One Ball State Day, Ball State University’s award-winning 24-hour online fundraising event, will be held on April 6, 2021. This will be the third year that this record-breaking event will take place.
Last year, our alumni, our students, our employees, and our friends made more than 6,300 gifts totaling nearly $534,000. This year, we plan to build on this success to bring the Ball State community together to continue to address the financial needs of our students.
Ball State graduates, friends, and supporters can support the event by donating online at oneballstate.bsu.edu anytime from midnight - 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 6.
“Last year’s One Ball State Day demonstrated how Cardinals help Cardinals, especially during challenging times. I am grateful to everyone who participated last year and those who will help this April 6th,” said Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. “The generosity of our supporters helps us achieve our mission of preparing our students to have fulfilling careers and to lead meaningful lives.”
With more than 100 employee ambassadors, hundreds of social media ambassadors, and more than 40 local area business sponsors, this year’s One Ball State Day (OBSD) promises to be another success. The day will include:
- Three virtual events
- Grab-and-go physically distanced activity stations in the lobby of the David Letterman Communication and Media Building
- On-campus treasure hunts
- Social media contests with a chance of winning donated prizes from area businesses or leadership challenge dollars to the University fund of choice.
The inaugural One Ball State Day was held in 2019, which resulted in more than $425,000 raised for scholarships, academic programs, and student organizations. Last year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we shifted our fundraising efforts to focus on Ball State students facing extraordinary financial needs, specifically highlighting the Jack Beyerl Student Emergency Aid and Take Flight funds.
The Jack Beyerl Student Emergency Aid provides financial assistance to students who experience accidents, illnesses, financial hardships, or other personal emergencies that negatively affect their ability to remain enrolled. The Take Flight Fund supports students whose ability to enroll in classes or graduate on time may be at risk due to demonstrated financial need.
Last year we saw an increase in participation by graduates, employees, students, and parents, with gifts received from all 50 states and five countries.
In January, that success was recognized when OBSD received the platinum award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), a global non-profit association dedicated to educational advancement. The platinum award is considered CASE’s top honor. In total, CASE has given nine regional and national awards to OBSD.
“To have One Ball State Day recognized by CASE with nine awards in two years is an honor I share with everyone who made gifts, posted on social media, and showed our students and faculty that we are better together,” said Lola Mauer, associate vice president of strategy for the Ball State University Foundation.
For more information about One Ball State Day, including participating groups, event challenges, how to become an ambassador, frequently asked questions, and more, visit the OBSD website.