#MaryWashDay has ended, but you can still support our Eagles!

Scholarships, fellowships, student support funds, and programs providing student assistance are essential to student success and attainment of a life-changing Mary Washington degree. Please consider supporting one or more of the following scholarships and funds this #MaryWashDay: 

Cedric B. Rucker '81 S.O.S. Fund

Funds from this endowment will be used to help students with unexpected and life-altering emergencies. This assistance could come in the form of a plane ticket for a student who needs to travel home in the event of a family emergency, textbooks for a semester, or other personal needs.

Class of 1972 Dr. Michael Bass Scholarship

This scholarship was established by members of the class to celebrate their 50th reunion and honor the late Professor Emeritus of Biological Science Michael Bass, who served as their class sponsor. The renewable scholarship is awarded to students majoring in Biological Sciences or Earth and Environmental Sciences. 

Class of 1976 Jane Reese-Coulbourne '76 Research Fellowship

This fellowship will fund pioneering cancer-related research by faculty and students, furthering Mary Washington's standing as an outstanding undergraduate research institution. It will cover essential research expenses and support travel for presenting and attending conferences, ensuring that the latest advancements can be shared and discussed within the broader academic community.

First-Generation Scholarship

First-generation students are more likely to arrive at college with fewer resources than their peers. About one-third of UMW's undergraduates are the first in their families to pursue a college degree. This new scholarship aims to help these students succeed on their educational journey.

General Scholarship Fund

Nearly half of all UMW undergraduates qualify for need-based aid. Many of these students would not be able to afford a college education without the support of the University's generous donors. Your gift to the General Scholarship Fund will help students stay in school, take on less debt, and graduate on time. If you would prefer to designate your gift to a specific scholarship, please choose the Fund Designation of "Other" on the donation form, and note the name of the scholarship in the text box provided.

The General Scholarship Fund is used to augment other sources of financial aid. It gives the University flexibility to help students who are most vulnerable, those facing a financial crisis, or who need extra support.

Gwen Hale Resource Center

More than 20% of UMW students have reported some level of food insecurity, which is tied to decreased course and degree completion. The Gwen Hale Resource Center (GHRC) intends to ease this burden by providing food, clothing, school supplies, toiletries, and other items at no cost to any member of the UMW community. One-hundred percent of donations to the Gwen Hale Resource Center go toward stocking our shelves with these essential items for students in need. 



$5,000
540 Gift Challenge
WE DID IT! When we reach 540 gifts (Fredericksburg’s area code), Virginia Blackwell Rigsby '67 and her husband John will unlock a $5,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington! Support our students with a gift today!
540 / 540 Gifts
Completed
$100,000
2,500 Gift Goal Challenge
WE DID IT! 2,500 GIFTS RECEIVED! When we reach our goal of 2,500 gifts during Mary Wash Day, a longtime Fund for Mary Washington supporter will make a gift of $100,000 to the Lynne Gourley Farrell '62 Fund for Mary Washington Endowment.
2,500 / 2,500 Gifts
Completed
$50,000
New Donor Challenge
WE DID IT! When we receive 350 gifts from first-time donors on Mary Wash Day, The UMW Foundation Board will unlock a $50,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington. Make your first-ever gift to Mary Washington today and help unlock an extra $50,000 of student support!
350 / 350 Gifts
Completed
Success!
First-Time Donor Alumni Challenge
WE DID IT! When 100 alumni make their first-ever gift to UMW during Mary Wash Day, Steve and UMW Foundation Board Member Donna Sheehan Gladis '68 will unlock a $20,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington increasing their impact. Alumni, make your first-ever gift to Mary Washington today and help unlock an extra $20,000 of student support!
Completed
$10,000
Married Alumni Challenge
WE DID IT! When 100 gifts are received from alumni who are married to other alumni, UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Justin ’97 and Allison ’96 Gerbereux will give $10,000 to the Fund for Mary Washington! Married alumni, make your gift to any area to help unlock an extra $10,000 to benefit students!
100 / 100 Gifts
Completed
$2,000
Class of 1975 50th Reunion Challenge
WE DID IT! When 15 gifts to any area across Mary Washington are made by members of the Class of 1975, the 1975 50th Reunion Committee will unlock a $2,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington! Class of 1975, celebrate your 50th Reunion with a gift for today's students!
15 / 15 Gifts
Completed
$2,500
75-Gift Student Challenge
WE DID IT! When 75 gifts are made by Mary Wash students to any area, a $2,500 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington will be unlocked by Andrew Lamar ’07, Vice Rector of the Board of Visitors. Students, support your peers, faculty, and programs when you give back during Mary Wash Day!
75 / 75 Gifts
Completed
$5,000
500-Gift Parent Challenge
WE DID IT! Kourtney and Terrance Whitehead, parents of a current student, are inviting you to help increase our impact! The Whiteheads will unlock a $5,000 gift to the Fund for Mary Washington if we receive 500 gifts from parents of current UMW students and parents of alumni. Support any area of the University and help meet our challenge!
500 / 500 Gifts
Completed
2
Match
First Generation Scholarship Match
Trenda Powell Jacocks '82 will match all gifts to the First Generation Scholarship award, up to $5,000! Help make the Mary Washington experience possible for first-generation students with your gift today!
$2,400 MATCHED
Ended
2
Match
Gwen Hale Resource Center Match
Executive Director of Events Susan Worrell, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement and UMW Foundation Executive Director Katie Turcotte, and Executive Director of Development Beth Hunsinger '01 are matching all gifts to the Gwen Hale Resource Center during Mary Wash Day dollar for dollar, up to $3,000.
$2,670 MATCHED
Ended
Success!
Share the Love for Mary Wash Challenge
When the Mary Wash Day 2025 video is shared 100 times (from the official University of Mary Washington Facebook page) by 11:59 pm on April 2, Margaret Birch ’79 will unlock a gift of $10,000 supporting the student experience.
Completed
Leaderboard
Mary Wash Day Donor Leaderboard
See which area will bring in the most donors!
Rank Fund Designation Donors
1 Fund for Mary Washington 382
2 UMW Theatre 373
3 Friends of Women's Basketball 89
4 Simpson Library 83
5 Geography - Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship 79
Ended
Leaderboard
#TogetherUMW Participation Leaderboard
When the Mary Wash community bands together, we can do amazing things.
Affiliation with UMW
Rank Answer Gifts
1 Alum 1,545
2 Current Faculty/Staff 468
3 Parent of a Current Student 433
4 Other/Friend of UMW 413
5 Parent of an Alum 170
6 Grandparent of Student 105
7 Current Student (Non-Senior) 87
8 Retired/Former Faculty/Staff 76
9 Current Student (Senior) 59
Ended
Leaderboard
Class Year Gift Total Leaderboard
Which class year will have the most gifts?
UMW Class Year
Rank Answer Gifts
1 2019 52
2 2004 50
3 2024 48
4 2022 43
5 2023 38
6 2010 37
7 2014 36
8 2020 35
9 2008 34
10 2005 34
11 2001 33
12 1996 33
13 1979 33
14 2017 33
15 1976 32
Ended
$16,000
1,908 Gift Challenge
WE DID IT! When 1,908 gifts (UMW's founding year) are made during Mary Wash Day, Patti Boise Kemp '69 will unlock a $16,000 gift to support student scholarships. Make a gift to any designation to help us unlock this challenge!
1,908 / 1,908 Gifts
Completed
$100,000
1,200 Alumni Donor Challenge
WE DID IT! President Paino and his wife, Kelly, challenge alumni to give back and pay it forward. When we reach 1,200 alumni donors on Mary Wash Day, they will make a $100,000 gift supporting the Fund for Mary Washington, which underpins the student experience and university priorities. Alumni, this one is for you!
1,200 / 1,200 Gifts
Completed
Success!
50 State Challenge
WE DID IT! When UMW receives at least one gift from every state in the U.S. and D.C. during Mary Wash Day, we will unlock a $10,000 gift from UMW Foundation Board of Trustees Member Vicky Nichols Wilder ’80 and Marty Wilder ’80 to support current and future students. Represent your state and make a gift during Mary Wash Day to help unlock the Wilders' $10,000 gift to Mary Washington!
Completed
Success!
Young Alumni First-Time Donor Challenge
WE DID IT! When 50 young alumni (classes of 2015-2024) make their first-ever gift to Mary Washington, Matt '19 and Sarah Balenger Good '19 will unlock a gift of $1,000 to the Fund for Mary Washington. Graduates of the last decade, make your first-ever gift to any area of your choice today and help unlock an extra $1,000 to support our students!
Completed
Leaderboard
Devil-Goat Challenge
UMW Foundation Board of Trustees member Mike Charnoff '95 and Katie Charnoff '04 are taking their Devil-Goat rivalry to a new level. If more Goats (alumni of even class years) make Mary Wash Day gifts than Devils (alumni of odd years), Mike will make a $5,000 gift to the area Katie chooses. If more Devils participate than Goats, Katie will give $5,000 to the area Mike chooses. Watch the Devil-Goat Leaderboard throughout the day to track the competition live!
Are you a Devil or a Goat?
Rank Answer Gifts
1 Goat 829
2 Devil 714
Ended
2
Match
The Jane Reese-Coulbourne ’76 Research Fellowship Match
In preparing for their 50th Reunion in 2026, members of the Class of 1976 are working to establish the Jane Reese-Coulbourne ’76 Research Fellowship to support groundbreaking cancer-related research by faculty and students. In recognition of this tribute, all gifts during Mary Wash Day will be matched dollar for dollar up to $8,500. Your support will fund essential research expenses and enable students and faculty to share advancements in the fight against cancer. Make your gift today and help carry Jane’s legacy forward.
$6,076 MATCHED
Ended
$2,025
Senior Class Challenge
WE DID IT! Lee Murray '04, Rector of the Board of Visitors and Karli Murray ’05, would like to challenge the Class of 2025 to give back and pay it forward for future Eagles. When 25 seniors make a gift to any area during Mary Wash Day, Lee and Karli will unlock a gift of $2,025 to the Fund for Mary Washington. Seniors, make a gift today and increase your impact!
25 / 25 Donors
Completed
$2,500
Faculty and Staff Donor Challenge
WE DID IT! When 250 faculty and staff members make a gift to any area of the University during Mary Wash Day, Jacob Long, VP for Administration and Finance and CFO, and Tim O’Donnell, Provost, will unlock a gift of $2,500 to support students and programs. Faculty and staff, support your area of choice and help unlock an additional $2,500 when you do.
250 / 250 Gifts
Completed
2
Match
General Scholarship Fund Match
MATCH MET! Alec and Betty Olander Adams '69 want to double your impact! Each gift to the General Scholarship Fund will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. Make your gift today and increase your impact to the General Scholarship Fund!
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Michael Bass Scholarship Match
MATCH MET! Class of 1972 member, K.Ray, wants to double your impact to the Class of 1972 Dr. Michael L. Bass Scholarship. She will match all gifts to the scholarship, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000. Double your impact when you give to the Class of 1972 Dr. Michael L. Bass Scholarship today!
$1,000 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Mary Wash Day Gift Leaderboard
Which area will receive the most gifts?
Rank Fund Designation Gifts
1 Fund for Mary Washington 411
2 UMW Theatre 385
3 Simpson Library 98
4 Friends of Women's Basketball 95
5 College of Education 93
Ended
Leaderboard
Mary Wash Day Dollars Raised Leaderboard
Which area will raise the most dollars?
Rank Fund Designation Raised
1 Fund for Mary Washington $189,154.03
2 UMW Theatre $36,659.55
3 Friends of Great Lives $17,722.00
4 Friends of Men's Tennis $15,798.00
5 Geography - Marshall E. Bowen Scholarship $10,591.00
Ended
Leaderboard
#TogetherUMW Dollars Raised Leaderboard
When the Mary Wash community bands together, we can do amazing things.
Affiliation with UMW
Rank Answer Amount
1 Alum $387,766.25
2 Parent of a Current Student $67,268.72
3 Parent of an Alum $53,541.05
4 Other/Friend of UMW $43,135.79
5 Retired/Former Faculty/Staff $27,132.53
6 Current Faculty/Staff $25,889.75
7 Grandparent of Student $12,653.00
8 Current Student (Senior) $2,318.63
9 Current Student (Non-Senior) $1,467.00
Ended
Leaderboard
Class Year Total Leaderboard
Which class year will raise the most funds?
UMW Class Year
Rank Answer Amount
1 1968 $36,000.01
2 1969 $27,594.01
3 1971 $18,150.02
4 1974 $12,172.50
5 1977 $11,775.06
6 1964 $11,285.00
7 1976 $9,191.01
8 2003 $7,720.04
9 1983 $6,993.02
10 1967 $5,230.01
11 1973 $5,125.00
12 1982 $4,695.02
13 2005 $4,675.09
14 1975 $4,650.01
15 1994 $4,265.07
Ended
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