Grant Hoskins
Reporter
The eighth annual Bjug Day of Giving yet again shattered its donor and donation records Oct 20, 2021, achieving over 100% of the initial donor goal and raising $1,120,018 for scholarships, athletics, academics, and student need.
The event was especially successful for PLU athletics, who brought in a total of $184,744, 143% of the anticipated target. Donations poured in from 45 states, with the State of Washington leading the way with a whopping 1173 total donations. Alumni made up 36% of the cumulative 2,046 donors.
Bjug Day is more than just a money-making event, however, with a variety of alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and other PLU community members participating and contributing to the occasion. Part of the continued prosperity can be attributed to SociaLutes, a social media initiative for the promotion and advocacy of the program.
“We’re so grateful to the record-breaking 173 people — including many students — who volunteered as SociaLutes this year. The SociaLutes who also became Advocates on the giving platform inspired 1,045 clicks to the giving page and 62 donors to make a gift of any size, accounting for over $12,147 from Advocates alone,” Director of Annual Giving Andrea Michelbach said.
Bjug Day strives to create opportunities of giving for every Lute and fosters an environment of not only financial growth but community support as well. Michelbach noted that every contribution makes a difference, big or small.
“However you define philanthropy, we created this day to spark conversations and invite collective action — to build on what’s best about the PLU community and to help make those good things even more visible,” she said.
“Lutes open doors” is a common phrase around campus said by staff and students alike, and Bjug Day embodies that principle. PLU promotes the idea that everyone on campus can take one small action to improve the day of those around them. Bjug day is a great way to spread school spirit and share passions with others while taking a step to promote the causes important to them. Community organizers emphasized the slogan “Give what you love” across campus and social media this year to embrace this message.
“Each person has different things about PLU that are special to them, and Bjug Day is a day where donors are invited to give to anything at PLU that they care about,” Michelbach said. “The slogan makes space for everyone to bring their own unique perspective to this collective effort. This year, donors gave to more than 120 different things that they love about PLU.”
For Michelbach and other Bjug Day staff, broad community involvement and outreach is what makes the event so special for PLU. Bringing in a variety of voices and interests and expanding the number of donations drive the program forward every year.
“Bjug Day isn’t only about the dollars, and, in fact, the only goal we set each year is for the number of donors who give through PLU during Bjug Day,” Michelbach said. Broad community participation is vital because each person is invested in PLU in different ways and ALL gifts make a difference when we come together collectively.”
Work has already begun for Bjug Day 2022 and if students would like to help plan the event next year, they can sign up by completing the Bjug Day 2022 interest form.
“Bjug Day exists to build community, understanding, and tradition around philanthropy, and to activate the generosity of our community in a joyful way that focuses on PLU people and programs having a positive impact in the world today. We will continue to build and adapt strategies with that purpose in mind.”
