Owl for One and One for Owls: When 6K donate June 1, Rice board will give $600K

Just as the three musketeers joined together for one great cause, Owls from all over the world are called on to come together for a challenge from the Rice Board of Trustees: If 6,000 members of the Rice community donate any amount to the university June 1, the board will give $600,000 to the Rice Annual Fund.

The gift can be of any size and to any area at Rice but must be made June 1 between midnight and 11:59 p.m. CDT. The gifts can be made online at giving.rice.edu/1day1Rice or by calling 713-348-4991 during business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT).

Gifts from undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni, parents, faculty, staff, retirees and members of the Class of 2017 will count toward the goal of 6,000 donors.

The Rice Annual Fund provides current-use, unrestricted funding for a range of student initiatives and pressing needs. A $600,000 donation from the board would provide vital support for academic initiatives, scholarships, campus life and experiential learning opportunities.

It’s the biggest challenge issued by the trustees, who are dedicated to the continued success of the university and Rice students, faculty, staff and alumni. The board truly understands the value of Owls’ participation, and that’s why the trustees set an impressive challenge to promote community engagement.

This year’s effort also includes two special challenges for supporters of Rice Athletics and the Jones Graduate School of Business, respectively: If 1,000 donors make a gift to the Owl Club June 1, an anonymous donor will give $100,000 to the Owl Club. If 250 donors make a gift to the Rice Business Fund June 1, an anonymous donor will give $50,000 to the Rice Business Fund.

Last year, the board challenged 5,000 members of the Rice community to donate in a 24-hour period; the board would then contribute $500,000. The challenge broke records: Over 5,000 contributed more than $1 million to the university. With the board’s additional gift, the total raised exceeded $1.5 million for causes across campus.

To follow the progress of the challenge throughout June 1, follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and share progress reports with your Owl network.