A total of 1,931 donors helped raise $2.9 million, marking another powerful demonstration of the Cardinal spirit and a fifth consecutive year of record-breaking engagement across all 50 states.

Timed to energize UofL’s Homecoming week, Raise Some L spanned 1,798 minutes, in honor of the university’s founding year, and celebrated the many ways philanthropy transforms lives across campus and beyond.

“Because of your generosity, we continue to move forward together,” said University of Louisville President Gerry Bradley. “Each gift, no matter the size, helps us create new opportunities for our students, faculty, staff, researchers, patients and the entire Cardinal community. We are deeply grateful to all who supported this effort.”

Throughout the day, supporters rallied behind their favorite programs, schools and causes, amplifying their impact through social media advocacy, challenges and matching gifts. The campaign also highlighted several major commitments and gifts that will have an immediate and lasting effect across the university, including:

• Anonymous – A transformational $500,000 commitment over the next five years to establish two Student Success Funds supporting undergraduate and medical students in financial need.
• Phoenix Controls – An in-kind gift valued at $382,258 to enhance the new Applied Engineering program with advanced technology and hands-on learning tools.
• SEW-EURODRIVE – An in-kind gift valued at $358,000 to further support the Applied Engineering program.
• Suraj and Rachel Alexander – A $100,000 gift establishing a Centennial Scholarship Fund within the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, along with a $50,000 planned gift to sustain the school’s mission.
• Autodesk – A $75,000 contribution in support of cutting-edge technologies for the Applied Engineering program.
• St. James Court Neighborhood Association – A renewed $74,375 commitment to benefit the Hite Art Institute, including a new scholarship honoring Bill Holladay, Jr.
• Lyle and Linda Graham – A $50,000 contribution to the Graham Student Philanthropy Endowed Fund and an additional $5,000 to the Graham Math Scholars Program.
• Anonymous Planned Gift – A $50,000 commitment to advance the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.
• Genentech, Inc. – A $43,421 gift to the School of Public Health & Information Sciences to support future health leaders.
• Dr. Paul Kelty – A $25,000 pledge to the Golden Alumni Scholarship at the Speed School of Engineering.
• Anonymous Gift – A $12,500 matching gift to expand resources for the UofL Writing, Editing, and Publishing Lab.

“Each year, the Cardinal community shows what’s possible when we come together with purpose,” said Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Jim Broschart. “These results reflect the power of collective generosity and the shared belief in UofL’s mission to make a difference in Louisville and around the world.”

While Raise Some L has concluded, there’s still time to make an impact. Gifts of any size continue to help strengthen programs and expand opportunities across the university. To learn more or contribute, visit .

Beginning at 6:02 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, and continuing through midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 16, the University of Louisville’s annual day of giving – affectionately known as Raise Some L – will run for an inspiring 1,798 minutes in honor of UofL’s founding year. This unique fundraising event, strategically set during Homecoming week, unites the Cardinal community in support of initiatives that will shape a thriving future for all.

“Your support of the UofL family ignites transformative opportunities for our students, patients and community and empowers the next generation of Cardinals to reach their full potential,” said President Kim Schatzel. “Together, we are building a brighter tomorrow.”

Several major gifts have already been pledged in advance of the day, including:

• $1.5 million��gift from The Bufford Family Foundation/Susan and Randy Bufford to support the College of Business, including scholarships and personal success investments for student-athletes.
• $1.1 million��beneficiary designation from an anonymous alumnus in support of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.
• $1 million��bequest from a loyal UofL supporter for the benefit of the Department of Biology.
• $150,000 gift from Strong Hold to support the new Speed School building.
• $125,000 from the Greater Louisville Medical Society Foundation to support scholarships for the School of Medicine
• $50,000 challenge gift from UofL Health to support the UofL Health Employee Emergency Fund.
• $25,000��memorial gift to support the Tung-ho Chen Endowed Graduate Student Scholarship from the Chen family.
• $13,000 in matching gifts from 1970’s alumni to support the Speed Golden Alumni Scholarship Endowment, the Medicine Class of 1971 Scholarship Endowment, and the 1970s Biology Graduate Student Endowment.
• $10,000 gift from the MW Fund to advance spinal cord injury research and provide patient assistance.

“Raise Some L is critical to keeping UofL accessible and affordable for students, fostering groundbreaking research and driving our growth as a leading metropolitan research university,” said Julie Dials, interim vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement. “We are deeply grateful to our dedicated alumni, faculty, staff and friends who rise to the challenge each year. Your unwavering commitment makes all the difference.”

To amp up the excitement of the day, Alumni Relations and Annual Giving will host a Raise Some L block party in front of the Red Barn on the Belknap Campus and the Student Activities Board (SAB) will host one at the HSC Quad on the Health Sciences Center Campus. Stop by for snacks, activities, prizes and more.

Last year, Raise Some L set a record with 2,093 donors contributing $1.3 million. Every dollar raised immediately supports vital areas across campus and the community. For the third consecutive year, Cardinals from all 50 states united to paint the nation red.

To learn more about UofL’s annual day of giving and how to become an advocate, visit . And be sure to spread the excitement on social media by using #RaiseSomeL.

For a full list of what’s happening during UofL Homecoming week, visit .

As former UofL head football coach, now ESPN College GameDay host Lee Corso says, “Not so fast, my friend.”

Raise Some L supporters made 2020 an absolutely great year for the university’s annual day of giving, increasing donations sevenfold from 2019 to 2020.

Held over 1,798 minutes (in honor of UofL’s founding year) Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, Raise Some L 2020 blew away last year’s total with $6.5 million in gifts and pledges from donors in 40 states across the county. In 2019, the total raised was a little in excess of $926,000.

Donors to Raise Some L chose where their gifts could be designated across the campus in academics, research, community engagement and clinical care.

“I want to say a big thank you … to all of you who supported Raise Some L, our annual day of giving. You came together as one Cardinal community to give back to those areas that you are most passionate about,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “You have demonstrated to the world that we stand united together in our mission.”

Bendapudi’s video message thanking donors is available for sharing

Competitions among groups helped keep the giving spirit alive throughout the event. Winners in each category were as follows:

Leaderboard Challenge

The Leaderboard Challenge Awards go to groups raising the most donations overall. These five winners will receive additional funding to their areas thanks to an anonymous donor:

1. RaiseRed Dance Marathon
2. School of Medicine
3. College of Arts & Sciences
4. MLK Scholars Program
5. UofL Health – James Graham Brown Cancer Center

Ambassador Impact

Three hundred, seventy-seven ambassadors volunteered as fundraisers for the event, raising 558 gifts with an average gift amount of $69. These top five ambassadors will receive additional funding to the area of their choice thanks to an anonymous donor:

1. Brian Buford
2. Jennifer Koch
3. Leslie Friesen
4. Amanda LeDuke
5. Lora Haynes

Early Bird Challenge

The Early Bird Challenge winner is the group raising the most funds by midnight on Oct. 20. This year’s winner is RaiseRed Dance Marathon.

Raise Some L is sponsored annually by University Advancement. More information about donating to UofL can be found

“The University of Louisville is grateful for our generous donors who support cutting-edge research, innovations in health care and student success,” said��Jasmine��Farrier, vice president for university advancement. “These extraordinary gifts help UofL become an even greater place to learn, work and invest.”

The support includes:

• $2.5 million to the from Otto D’Olivo to create the Otto and Susan D’Olivo Endowed Research Fund for Bipolar Disorder Treatment. This gift will establish an endowment to fund important research on bipolar and other mood disorders, conditions that affect one in five Americans. The focus of research will be on the basic mechanisms of these illnesses and the development of improved treatments.
• $1 million to the from an anonymous donor to kick off renovations to bring the school’s facilities up to national standards for student learning and adaptable teaching. These renovations will allow for hands-on experiences and opportunities for innovative thinking complemented by a state-of-the-art facility. In making the gift, the donor issued a challenge to support the next generation of nurses by giving back to the School of Nursing during the day of giving campaign.
• $1 million from Dr. and Mrs. William Cheadle to fund the that is responsible for directing all aspects of the general surgery residency program. “Mary and I wanted to give back to this outstanding residency training program which enabled me to achieve a successful academic career,” Dr. Cheadle said. “We appreciate the supreme devotion to the education of our surgical residents by Drs. (Hiram) Polk, (David) Richardson, (Kelly) McMasters and others in maintaining the highest standard of excellence of the University of Louisville general surgery residency.”
• $500,000 to the from Raymond Loyd to expand the M. Krista Loyd Resource Center and to fund transportation, housing and other needs for low-income patients as well as holistic therapies for all patients. A cancer survivor himself, Loyd is challenging everyone to give back and help save lives by giving to the center during Day of Giving.
• $100,000 to the from Hank and Rebecca Conn to continue and��advance the center’s goal of renewable energy��and promoting��technologies, practices and programs that increase efficiency for energy utilization. Hank Conn issued a challenge to fellow UofL supporters: “We have committed $100,000 for UofL’s day of giving…our passion is renewable energy…we’d like to see you push your passion.”
• $30,000 from the Bezos Family Foundation and $15,000 from the C. E. and S. Foundation to the . This fund supports programming related to the Center for Creative Placehealing’s Kentucky Wellbeing Challenge, which will launch a statewide program that provides inspiration, tools and a platform for high school students to design S.T.E.A.M. solutions to some of Kentucky’s most critical health and wellbeing challenges.

Raise Some L, the University of Louisville’s annual day of giving, kicks off at 6:02 p.m. on Oct. 20, running for 1,798 minutes in honor of the founding year of the university. Learn more at .

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