The First Ever One Day for Iowa Will Be Held Wednesday, October 26, To Benefit All Areas At The UI
2016-10-18
October 20, 2016 — Recent graduates Jeffrey Ding and Alex Westlund understand the power of giving back, and they’re devoting their One Day for Iowa to help the next generation of Hawkeyes.
Ding (2016 B.A., B.B.A., B.S.) and Westlund (2016 B.B.A.) will be supporting students on Wednesday, October 26, during the University of Iowa’s first ever One Day for Iowa, a 24-hour online fundraising event that will give alumni, friends, fans, and parents the chance to make a difference across the entire campus. Ding, who received the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University in Oxford, England, gives back to help students who follow in his footsteps.
“My One Day for Iowa is to support Hawkeye students,” says Ding. “So many of my most memorable experiences at the University of Iowa were tied directly to philanthropy. Whether it was studying abroad, conducting research, or participating in student organizations, I was able to see the vital role that private donations play in the broader landscape of educational policy. I hope to make philanthropy a routine in my life.”
Westlund believes in supporting the UI because philanthropy shapes every part of the Iowa experience.
“My One Day for Iowa is to help students develop and pursue their passions,” says Westlund. “With gifts from generous donors to areas such as the Iowa Impact Fund, University of Iowa students are able to learn from top-notch faculty in the classroom and gain real-world experience through campus involvement. Philanthropy shapes the student experience at Iowa in nearly every way.”
For individuals like Ding and Westlund, One Day for Iowa will be an inspiring day when Hawkeyes can come together and make a difference at the UI. Donors making gifts during One Day for Iowa will have the opportunity to earn bonus dollars for colleges and programs at the UI, meaning gifts made that day can make an even greater impact.
Others in the UI community, like Fran McCaffery and his wife, Margaret, have a more personal reason to donate. The McCafferys, who have experienced the cancer battle firsthand, will be supporting Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center during One Day for Iowa.
Their son, Patrick, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2014. Now leading a vibrant, healthy life, 16-year-old Patrick is fortunate, but that wouldn’t be the case without the world-class physicians and nurses at Holden.
“During Patrick’s battle with thyroid cancer, we learned—by speaking to people from around the country—that Iowa has leading cancer specialists,” says Fran McCaffery. “These individuals ensured that Patrick received incredible care, and now it’s our duty to pay it forward to those who need support now and in the future.”
To learn more and to help spread the word about One Day for Iowa, visit 1Day.uiowa.edu. Also, follow the University of Iowa Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.