Belk College of Business alumni, students and friends responded to the call during #NinerNationGives, UNC Charlotte’s sixth annual digital fundraising event, setting a college 49-hour giving record and raising over $96,000.
The annual event took on extra meaning this year as the Belk College commemorates its 50th anniversary. The college called on its over 33,000 alumni as well as students, faculty, staff and friends to show the impact the college has had on their lives and impact future business leaders and innovators by participating in the giving event, April 7-9.
Overall, the Belk College received 380 gifts, a 22% increase over the previous #NinerNationGives. Giving also was up 35% over the previous event.
“The past year has brought challenges for so many, including Belk College students,” said Harper Hicks ‘16, chair of the Belk College Alumni Council Development Committee. “This generous support during Niner Nation Gives will go directly to support areas of need at the Belk College, provide scholarships for students, and create life-changing engagement experiences. Thank you alumni and friends for helping us impact future business leaders and innovators.”
This year’s event was supported through nine challenge gifts where donors could help unlock additional funding:
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Young Alumni Challenge from alumnus Deep Patel ‘19 ($25,000)
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Belk College Alumni Council Scholarship Challenge ($8,500)
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Alumni Scholarship Challenge from MBA alumnus Paul Ferraro ‘99 ($2,500)
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Women in Business Challenge from alumna Sandra Kluttz ‘84 ($1,049)
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Dean Troyer First Donor Challenge ($5,000)
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Associate Dean Pat Mynatt Challenge ($2,500)
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50th Anniversary Challenge for 349 donors to Belk College from alumnus Gene Johnson '73 ($10,000)
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Turner School of Accountancy Challenge from alumnus Chris Summer '03 ($300)
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Gifts Challenge from alumna Susan Jamison ‘78 ($4,900)
Three Belk College alumni also were in the Top 10 #NinerNationGives ambassadors for the overall campaign.
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Zacch Estrada-Peterson ‘05 (112 gifts)
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Christopher Moxley ‘03 (67 gifts)
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Jonathan Hill ‘13 (45 gifts)
Belk College giving priorities this year included:
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The Belk College Alumni Scholarship: Established by the Belk College Alumni Council in 2014, the fund provides scholarships for students to bridge the gap between financial aid and need.
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The Belk College’s Dean’s Excellence Fund: This fund supports critical needs at the college. The fund, the most flexible resource, also supports student success through scholarships and helps the college attract and retain top educators.
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Women in Business Fund: This fund supports the college’s Women in Business Initiative, which aims to empower Belk College undergraduate students through networking and mentoring events and an annual conference.
In addition, Business Niners could elect to support a department or program fund for which they have a special affinity, including the Childress Klein Center for Real Estate Fund, the Turner School Endowed Fund, and the Insurance Assistance Student Fund.
To support the college’s #NinerNationGives, several videos were created. They can be viewed on YouTube.
Overall, this year’s #NinerNationGives campaign broke records, with 5,582 total gifts and raising more than $2 million to support life-changing scholarships, special programs, athletic initiatives and groundbreaking research at UNC Charlotte.
Alumni and friends are encouraged to support the Belk College year round and join the anniversary celebration on social media using the hashtag #BelkCollege50.
Green and Gold Drive Business
The Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte has been driving business for more than 50 years. Established in 1970, the college offers outstanding business education programs at the undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and executive levels. The Belk College is one of the Carolinas’ largest business schools, with more than 4,600 students, over 100 full-time faculty, and more than 33,000 alumni. Accredited by AACSB International, the college is committed to building strong partnerships in the greater Charlotte region and beyond as North Carolina's urban research business school. Learn more about how the Belk College is driving business at belkcollege.charlotte.edu, and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.