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 WCU Stories      February 10, 2025

By Bill Studenc

ÌđčÏÊÓÆ”app’s annual all-in day of giving to the institution, titled “One Day for Western” and taking place Wednesday, March 26, will focus on garnering philanthropic gifts for all of the Catamount sports teams and for endowments supporting academic excellence.

Entering its third year, “One Day for Western” is a 24-hour fundraising event designed to benefit multiple areas of the university by inviting members of the WCU community to make donations to institutional priorities as identified by partners across campus.

The emphasis for 2025 will be on raising sport-specific funds for individual Catamount teams – baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, football, men’s and women’s golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. The effort includes seeking contributions to the cheerleading program, the Catamount Club Scholarship Fund and for athletics facilities renovations.

This year’s edition of “One Day for Western” also will emphasize excellence endowments that provide support for all of the institution’s colleges – Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts, Brinson Honors College, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education and Allied Professions, College of Engineering and Technology and College of Health and Human Sciences – and for the Graduate School, Highlands Biological Station and Hunter Library.

“We have identified priority focuses across the university, including high-priority funds for WCU, strategic priorities for our ‘Fill the Western Sky’ campaign and areas of need within specific colleges and units,” said Rebekah Cheney, WCU’s director of annual giving. “You can give to these priorities or any other cause you’re passionate about. However you choose to support WCU on ‘One Day for Western’ will be celebrated. Every gift helps to fill the Western sky.”

Nearly 1,150 donors made gifts and pledges totaling more than $494,000 during last year’s second annual “One Day for Western,” including 211 donors who made their first-ever gift to WCU.

“One Day for Western” will also feature several donor challenges in hopes of maximizing philanthropic impact. Goals of the challenges will vary; some challenges will be based on raising specific dollar amounts, while others will be based on donor participation. Those challenges will be announced in the days leading up to March 26.

Gifts received during “One Day for Western” will count toward the official tally for the “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for the university’s academic, student engagement and athletics programs. For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.

For more information about “One Day for Western,” visit the website or call 828-227-7335.