GREENVILLE, Pa.—For the eighth straight year, Thiel College’s annual, one-day online giving event had a record number of donors.
636 donors contributed $209,746 to Match Day. It is the first time in the event’s history that the number of donors has topped 600. Included in those numbers were a record-setting 125 employees, who made a donation to the Thiel Fund. In addition to the donors, 295 students, friends of the College, staff, and faculty walked or jogged laps around the Col. Charles “Bud” Manes ’58 Track at the Dr. Barry ’70 and Carol ’71 Stamm Track & Field Complex. While getting their steps in, volunteers competed for a number of fun prizes. This year’s donor number is a 7 percent increase from 2022. However, the past year raised an event-record $238,000.
Fundraiser challenges seeking matching donations from the members of fraternities and sororities and clubs and organizations added a dose of competition and rivalry to the event. Those affinity groups compete each year to be the top donating organization, with Phi Theta Phi winning the Greek Challenge for the fraternity or sorority with the most donors this year. 326 people with Greek connections contributed to Match Day.
Meeting all the match challenges added more than $70,000 to the total donations made that day.
“I am thrilled to announce that Match Day was a massive success. We had a record number of donors who generously contributed to our cause, and we couldn’t be more grateful. The Thiel Fund is an incredibly important initiative, and we are proud to support it. Thanks to those contributors, we can now fund vital programs and initiatives that will make a real difference in the lives of those we serve,” David Mogle, director of the Thiel Fund, said. “To each and every one of our Match Day donors, ‘Thank you!’ Your support means the world to us, and we are so grateful for your willingness to contribute to our mission. We are making a real difference in the world, and we are honored to have you as a part of our community. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.”
Since its inception in 2014, the giving event has raised more than $1.2 million for the College.
“That investment in the College underscores the significance of the day. This fundraising effort is a grassroots event driven by the community’s desire to support the College,” Vice President for College Advancement Roberta Leonard said. “More than half the donors have or had connections to a Greek organization, and those folks really make the day special. But this year, the support of our employees was amazing. Our community is a team, and every year a new group turns in a clutch performance that helps lift the day for us. Today is a day to celebrate being a Tomcat.”
Gifts for Match Day go to the College’s Thiel Fund, which is the largest source of unrestricted funds at the College. The Thiel Fund is used to support the areas of greatest need at the College, funding need-based scholarships, academic programming, athletics, and campus improvements. This fund annually provides for unforeseen expenses, as well as student needs and special opportunities.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.