Una Gift Bay Joins Fund-raisers, Charities Worldwide For 'giving Tuesday' Online Campaign

Dec. 02, 2013

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

By Terry Pace,Communications and Marketing FLORENCE, Ala. - Supporters of UNA now have a quick, easy, user-friendly way to honor a friend or loved one with a special gift for the holidays. In October, the Office of Advancement launched UNA Gift Bay as a new, interactive feature - www.una.edu/giftbay - available on the school's website. The online service allows donors to designate gifts for any of UNA's four academic colleges - Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, and Nursing and Allied Health - as well as Atheltics, Library Services, International Affairs and other special programs. "Gift Bay is a marketplace of generosity where alumni and friends of the university can shop for ways to help our academic programs," according to Dr. Dan Hendricks, UNA's vice president for advancement. "UNAGift Bay is an affordable way to get involved with UNA.We hope our friends like it." In the wake of Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, UNA Gift Bay is partnering with the global observance of Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday), a concentrated day of philanthropic support when charitable organizations, schools, families, businesses and communities around the world join hands to celebrate the holiday spirit of love, joy and gratitude. In honor of Giving Tuesday 2013 (Tuesday, Dec. 3), UNA is making a special Gift Bay appeal to alumni, friends, supporters and other potential donors to give a doubly meaningful "gift" in honor of a friend, relative or other loved one. "Giving someone the chance to participate in a charitable donation is a giftyou can both feel good about, and it's a gift that will never go to waste," explained Haley Brink, UNA's director of annual giving. "With the new UNA Gift Bayjust a click away, it's now easier than ever to make a donation on someone else's behalf and give them the giftthat truly gives back." UNA invites alumni, friends and other supporters of the school's outstanding academic and athletic programs to consider making a charitable contribution of $100, $250, $500 through UNA Gift Bay in order to help the university continue its rich tradition of excellence and achievement. "The giftyou provide will have a positive impact on our university and our students, faculty and staff by directly supporting the areas you feel need it the most," Brink concluded. "Whether you're purchasing equipment, supporting our students and faculty or simply providing for a special project need, your giftlets you and the recipient make a truly lasting impression at UNA." Similar to online shopping services such as eBay and Amazon, Gift Bay allows donors to visit web pages outlining both immediate and long-range needs for each academic college or program. For instance, a potential donor who is considering making a donation to the UNA College of Business can click on Gift Bay (www.una.edu/giftbay), then click on the tab for Business and view descriptions of both general and specific needs before making their online donation to that program. "Many of our friends are familiar with our current online annual-giving opportunities through the 1830 Fund," Hendricks explained. "Gift Bay offers a new option for giving by allowing potential donors to concentrate their giving in a specialized area that focuses on the current needs expressed by our colleges and other academic programs. Choices can range from providing microscopes for a biology lab or computer software for a business course to supporting a student in one of our Study Abroad experiences or funding research projects or conference travel for one of our faculty members." The beauty of Gift Bay, UNA officials maintain, is that donors can select the academic program closest to their hearts. "The giftyou provide will have a tremendous impact on UNA and its students by directly supporting the areas you feel need it the most," noted Bryan Rachal, a UNA development officer who works with the UNA College of Education and Allied Heath, the College of Business and the Office of International Affairs. "Whether you're purchasing equipment, supporting our students and faculty or simply providing for a special project need, your giftallows you and the recipient to make a truly positive impact at UNA. Your gift will change lives." For more information, or to make a donation to UNA Gift Bay, call the UNA Office of Advancement at 256-765-4670 or visit www.una.edu/giftbay. For details on Giving Tuesday, visit www.givingtuesday.org.