ISU gears up for fifth annual Give to Blue Day

Indiana State University is preparing for its fifth annual Give to Blue Day on March 22 when the campus, alumni, and local community work together to raise funds for ISU students and programs.

Events to celebrate Give to Blue Day will take place around campus to encourage support and donations for Sycamores. Several local businesses are hosting events or pledging a portion of their profits to ISU in promotion of this day of giving. Many of these businesses are owned by alumni, and include:

· Federal Coffee and Fine Foods, which will be selling limited edition Indiana State University mugs featuring the art of ISU alumna and graduate student Regan Zerwig. Specialty drinks will be available for purchase throughout the day.

· Culver's, which will be selling special "Blue" Sycamore-themed shakes and sundaes, as well as various promotions throughout the day.

· WaterTower Estates, which will offer a Sycamore Sam-gria cocktail, Be So BOLD Pinot Noir, and a custom-designed wine glass.

· McDonald's locations in the Wabash Valley, which will give back 5% of their sales on March 22 to Indiana State University.

More than 15 partners around Terre Haute will have Give to Blue Day promotions. Stay tuned to indstate.edu/GiveToBlue for the full list of the participating businesses as March 22 nears.

"We're grateful that Give to Blue Day has become an ISU tradition where Sycamores near and far show their support for our tremendous university and students," ISU President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis said.

During last year's Give to Blue Day, 1,845 generous donors gave $1,334,614 to the University in the 24-hour giving period. This was a 30% increase in gifts over the previous year. Gifts support the area of choice by the donor, including scholarships, experiential learning, faculty, and Sycamore Athletics.

"The Student Philanthropy Organization is excited to ramp up this year's Give to Blue activities as we celebrate the fifth 24-hour day of giving at Indiana State," said Miah Ferran, Student Philanthropy President. "We want to continue encouraging a philanthropic spirit among Sycamores, both on campus and around the world."

Donations can be made using credit and debit cards as well as apps such as Venmo, Apple Pay, and PayPal. Donors will have the option of designating a specific fund on campus to receive their gift.

"As we celebrate the first Give to Blue Day during the public phase of the Be So BOLD campaign, we are continuing to build excitement for the exceptional opportunities Sycamores can experience through donor generosity," said Andrea Angel, Vice President of University Advancement and CEO of the ISU Foundation.

"Join us in boldly supporting Indiana State students on this year's Give to Blue Day by signing up to be a social ambassador and spreading the word on social media! Your participation and your gift are greatly appreciated."

Gifts can be made online and accepted in-person at the ISU Foundation at 30 North 5th Street in Terre Haute. Advancement staff will be in the Foundation until midnight on Give to Blue Day. For more information, call 812-237-6100 or visit indstate.edu/GiveToBlue.