Last Thursday, Sept. 10, University of Hartford president Walter Harrison announced in a video that the University’s Anchor Fund will go toward student financial aid for the 2016 and 2017 Fiscal Years.
“We’ve always had many students who have benefitted from financial aid. Alumni have come before them have contributed so that those students can benefit from a world-class university education,” Harrison said in a video posted to the University’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. “For me, this is our principle reason. To help students fulfill their dreams. To ensure our own future as a university and to make this a better country and a better world.”
The Anchor Fund is the University of Hartford’s annual fund which is supported by faculty, staff, alumni, parents, friends of the University, students, foundations and corporations. Traditionally, the Anchor Fund has supported the University’s highest needs.
For the 2014–15 school year, the goal was $755,000, but only $635,356 was raised. However, it was one of the University’s best fundraising years in a while.
This year, the goal is set at $695,000.
Back at the 2015–16 Faculty/Staff Kickoff in August, Harrison had said that the Anchor Fund would be repurposed to focus on supporting student financial aid.
“One of my most important personal goals over the next two years is to raise funds to help more students afford the opportunity for a University of Hartford education,” Harrison told the crowd at GSU in August. “To that end, we are repurposing our Anchor Fund to focus on supporting student financial aid.”These announcements came after Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposed state budget would eliminate funds for private colleges and universities for the Governor’s Scholarship, which focuses on the poorest students among Connecticut residents to attend college.
The cuts reduced the University’s funds from $1.5 million to $900,000 in the coming year. The University originally received $2.8 million back in 2008 but it has since been cut down.
To counter that, the University has put it into their own hands and are now allocating their own funds to make up for it.
Donors can make a donation online at the Anchor Online website. There are also a multitude of ways to give back to the University and more information can be found online on the University website.
Throughout the school year, the University also runs a few events with the focus on gathering more donations.
Earlier this year, the University held its third annual 24-hour challenge on April 30 with the stipulation that if at least 300 gifts were received, a donor would add an additional $10,000 to the Anchor Fund.
The University received gifts from 320 individuals and raised over $30,000.
For 2016, the ante has been upped. Based on the success of the 24-hour challenges, it will now be expanded to Challenge Week coming in February. More information is expected in Jan. 2016.The Student Alumni Association also runs the #FeedVinny promotion throughout the year. Students can receive their own personal Vinny the Pig piggy bank and fill it with change or cash throughout the semester.
Roundup dates for this semester are set for Oct. 15 and Dec. 1.
On March 1, 2016, the University will celebrate its fourth annual Thank-A-Giver Day on campus that engages and educates students, faculty and staff about the importance of giving back.
Red TAGS can be found posted around campus to recognize their generous donations.