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Giving Day Brings Ole Miss Community Together
April 14-15 event allows donors to support scholarships, student activities and host of opportunities
OXFORD, Miss. – A stuffed squirrel waits to be found somewhere on the University of Mississippi campus. Nearby, a student autographs the Ventress Hall turret while alumni and friends nationwide contribute to scholarship and student services programs.
It is all part of the annual Giving Day at Ole Miss. On Giving Day, students, alumni and friends come together to shape the university's future and share in a Hotty Toddy experience.
Giving Day begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday (April 14) and lasts for 1 day, 8 hours and 48 minutes, honoring the university's founding in 1848. It offers supporters a chance to make an impact across campus, from scholarships and academic programs to hands-on student experiences.
"Giving Day is a great opportunity that allows us to provide students with unique and life-changing opportunities," said Charlotte Parks, UM vice chancellor for development. "It's a fun time for Ole Miss alumni and friends to see what's happening here and support the areas they feel most passionate about."
At the heart of the event is the Ole Miss Fund, which supports students, programs and priorities across the university. Last year, the fund reached some two dozen schools, colleges and units, allowing university leaders to respond to immediate needs on campus.
"Every gift makes a difference," said Wendell Weakley, CEO of the UM Foundation. "Giving Day allows donors to amplify their impact through matching opportunities and creates an easy entry point for new donors who want to support students and programs they care about."
Ole Miss READY, a program expanding access to higher education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is a new focus this year. READY provides academic, social and life-skills support that opens doors many families once thought were closed.
Additionally, the Let's Book It Fund, launched during the 2025 Giving Day to support Ole Miss Opportunity students, helps make course materials more accessible. With donor support, every Ole Miss Opportunity student received $500 this fall for textbooks and supplies. This year's Giving Day aims to keep the program fully funded.
"Ole Miss has always been a place where people take care of each other," said Maura Langhart, senior director of annual giving and the annual drive's coordinator. "Giving Day is a powerful reminder that when we come together, we can create access, remove barriers and make this university stronger for everyone."
A favorite tradition returns this year: the Squirrel Scavenger Hunt. Students who follow clues on social media and find a stuffed squirrel hidden on campus can direct a $250 gift to the campus initiative of their choice.
Students can also participate in smaller moments that add up. On Tuesday afternoon, a $26 gift to the Ole Miss Fund allows donors to name a squirrel and receive a certificate bearing its name. Donors may also give in honor or memory of someone who shaped their Ole Miss experience, with the option to notify honorees through the Giving Day platform.
For students in the College of Liberal Arts, Giving Day offers another opportunity to "sign the turret," a long-standing tradition that allows students to leave their mark in Ventress Hall while supporting academics.
Creativity and storytelling also take center stage through the S. Gale Denley Student Media Center and Mississippi Media Lab, where students gain hands-on experience in journalism, digital media and visual storytelling.
Throughout Giving Day, the Ole Miss community can tune in to a live stream featuring voices from across campus, including the chancellor and provost, along with academic demonstrations, creative segments and student stories. The stream will be available on the Giving Day platform, as well as Facebook, LinkedIn, Vimeo and YouTube.
"Giving Day is where passion meets purpose," Langhart said. "It connects what people care about with real needs across campus."
For more information, contact Langhart at mmwakefi@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2760.
By Michael Newsom
