More than 2,000 donors came together to raise an impressive $5.4 million for , and . And for the fourth consecutive year, UofL turned the entire U.S. map Cardinal red as donations poured in from all 50 states, demonstrating the far-reaching support of alumni, students, parents and friends.

Strategically set during Homecoming Week, this annual day of giving brings Cardinals here and beyond together for their shared goal to create a brighter future to UofL.

In addition to thousands of grassroots donations, several donors pledged significant gifts in advance of the event, elevating the overall impact. These included a $1.5 million gift from The Bufford Family Foundation to support the College of Business, a $1.1 million beneficiary designation from an anonymous alumnus for the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and a $1 million bequest for the Department of Biology. UofL Health contributed a $50,000 challenge gift for the Employee Emergency Fund and the Greater Louisville Medical Society Foundation provided $125,000 for School of Medicine scholarships.

Cardinal advocates also played a crucial role as 66 fundraisers mobilized to raise more than $24,000 from 280 donors.

“Your generous contributions during Raise Some L 2024 have empowered our future and opened new chapters of opportunity. Thank you for being a vital part of our story,” said Julie Dials, interim vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement. “Your support truly makes a difference and will have a profound impact on UofL, UofL Health and UofL Athletics.”

The contributions of the Cardinal family will make an immediate and lasting impact on hundreds of initiatives across UofL’s campuses and the Louisville community. Their united support will continue to fuel innovation, scholarships and growth for years to come.

If you missed the day of giving, learn more or make a gift at .

Beginning at 6:02 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24, and continuing through midnight, Wednesday, Oct. 25, Raise Some L runs for 1,798 minutes in honor of UofL’s founding year. The 30-hour campaign, held during week, is a chance for the Cardinal community to support students, research and campus initiatives that help foster a better world.

“Your investment in UofL creates vibrant futures for our students and empowers the next generation of Cardinals to unleash their potential and build a brighter tomorrow,” said President Kim Schatzel.

Several sizable donations have been pledged in advance of the day including:

• $50,000 to benefit the HDR Foundation from an anonymous donor
• $50,000 to Brandeis School of Law LGBTQ Community Impact Scholarship by John Selent
• $50,000 challenge from UofL Health for the UofL Health Employee Emergency Fund
• $37,500 to create the UofL English Writing, Editing and Publishing Lab
• $25,000 to Whittenberg Construction Endowment by Whittenberg Construction
• $25,000 to create a scholarship within the School of Public Health & Information Sciences by Kim Mascaro

“UofL’s day of giving campaign helps keep the university affordable for students, provides opportunities for learning and discovery and ensures UofL’s progress as a major metropolitan research university,” said Brent Pieper, vice president for advancement. “We are grateful for the generous alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the Cardinal community who continue to rise to the occasion. Thank you for everything you do to support our mission.”

Interested donors can make a gift at . In addition to online giving, in-person donations may be made at the Raise Some L Belknap Campus and Health Sciences Center campus headquarters from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25. To learn more about Raise Some L or become an advocate, visit .

The Student Organization for Alumni Relations will be stationed at Raise Some L headquarters at the quads of both campuses with snacks, activities and additional information. Share the word about Raise Some L by using #RaiseSomeL.

For information on other UofL Homecoming week events, visit .

The gift, from former Speed School alumni fellow Scott McReynolds ’86 and his wife Jennifer ’84, also represents the kickoff to Raise Some L, UofL’s annual day of giving.

Beginning at 6:02 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18, and continuing through midnight, Wednesday, Oct. 19, Raise Some L runs for 1,798 minutes in honor of UofL’s founding year. The 30-hour drive, traditionally held during Homecoming Week, is a chance for the Cardinal Community to support students, research and campus initiatives that help build a better world.

The opportunities created by the gift will help underprivileged youth gain critical skills to tackle the world’s problems. The $450,000 donation will provide last dollar scholarships, tutoring and bridge programming, Robotics Research Fellowships within the Louisville Automation and Robotics Research Institute (LARRI), summer research experiences for Central High School students at LARRI and an immersive learning experience trip to Boston, Massachusetts, the hub of robotics research and innovation.

“Gifts like these are inspiring and life-changing,” Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said. “This generous support and other funds raised during our annual day of giving will help fuel the success of our students, advance our research and innovation initiatives and improve our community.”

There have also been several sizable donations that have already been pledged in advance of the day including:  

• Three gifts to the School of Medicine designated for research in the amounts of $1 million, $400,000 and $100,000 from anonymous donors
• $50,000 gift to the Community Band in the School of Music from an anonymous donor
• $33,675 gift to the Breonna Taylor Memorial Scholarship Endowment by Jill Whitten in memory of her parents Ann W. and Donald J. Roth
• $25,000 gift to establish the Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc “Scholars in Healthcare Social Work” Scholarship, funded by Ronald Z. Szoc and Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc
• $15,000 challenge match that will support various areas across the university by Hank and Rebecca Conn
• $10,000 gift to the UofL Health Brown Cancer Center by Jason Chesney
• $10,000 match gift for the LGBTQ Center by Steve Bass

“UofL’s Day of Giving Campaign is a great way to support the continued success of the Cardinal community by making a gift to an area that inspires you,” Interim Vice President for Advancement Julie Dials said. “This year’s Day of Giving is especially critical as we navigate challenging times to help create thriving futures for our students.”

Raise Some L 2022 begins at 6:02 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18 and runs through midnight, Wednesday, Oct. 19. Interested participants can make a gift to any area of the university at .

In addition to online giving, in-person donations may be made at the Raise Some L Belknap Campus and Health Sciences Campus headquarters from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19.

The Student Organization for Alumni Relations will be stationed at Raise Some L headquarters at the quads of both campuses with snacks, activities and additional information.  Share the word about Raise Some L by using #RaiseSomeL.

For information on other UofL Homecoming Week events, please visit the .

Kelsi Worrell, a 2016 graduate and Olympic champion swimmer, will serve as grand marshal for the 2017 Homecoming Parade on Oct. 13. The family-friendly is one of several signature events planned for the week-long “Welcome Home”-themed celebration from Oct. 7-14.

The week also includes several opportunities to give back. Alumni across the country are encouraged to participate in UofL Alumni/Cardinal Day of Service. Volunteer opportunities are available nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 7 through various UofL Alumni councils and chapters. Thanks to a partnership with UofL’s Office of Community Engagement, local alumni can also volunteer at locations across Louisville on Friday, Oct. 6. Register for either date. 

Cardinal supporters can “Raise Some L” during the annual UofL Day of Giving on Oct. 11. The 24-hour call to action helps fund essential areas of need across campus. Become a Raise Some L Ambassador to help spread the word and track your impact.

The Homecoming Golf Scramble tees off Monday, Oct. 9 at the UofL Golf Club in Simpsonville. The scramble is presented by Alumni Association board member and 1993 graduate Chris Puffer of Creative Capital Group. 

Other events for the week include the annual , the Class of 1967 and the Homecoming against Boston College.

For a full schedule of events and registration opportunities, visit the �貹����.��

“Throughout the day, the UofL community around the world will have the opportunity to fund several noteworthy projects and have a real, immediate impact on UofL,” said Will Holley, director of Annual Giving. “In our inaugural year last year, we raised over $73,000 for student scholarships. This year, we’ve joined forces with 22 campus partners and are raising funds for several scholarships, programs and technical enhancements. Our goal is entirely about participation and helping meaningful projects.”

Below are three of many options you can give to:  

Student Affairs – Three projects that will immediately assist students are the Student Activity Center Expansion, the Bornwasser Student Emergency Fund, and the Cards SPEAK program. The renovation will enhance services and spaces for our university community, the emergency fund assists students who encounter unforeseen financial emergency, and Cards SPEAK provides suicide training and awareness to students, faculty and staff.

Scholarships –  Through a multitude of scholarship designations, you can choose to support a staple scholarship program, or choose to support a scholarship fund that provides assistance in your geographic locations. Support the Henry Vogt Scholarship Program, which helps recruit Kentucky’s best and brightest students to UofL, the Cardinal Covenant Program which makes college attainable for those below poverty line, or one of many regional scholarships maintained by our UofL Alumni chapters and councils.

Stethoscopes for Students – The School of Medicine hopes to activate donors to make a direct impact on incoming medical students’ experience. Donors’ gifts will help provide a new stethoscope for each incoming medical student to be awarded at the student’s White Coat Ceremony.

The UofL Alumni Association will be live-streaming updates all day via social media. View all campus projects and share your own online at UofLDayofGiving.com.