Illinois Wesleyan University's annual fundraising campaign broke a record it set last year, bringing in more than $2.7 million for the private liberals arts college in Bloomington.
"All in for Wesleyan" is a one-day giving event first launched in 2013. Proceeds from the fundraiser pay for student scholarships, research, updating the university's technology, athletics and more.
Last year, the fundraiser set a record of $2.6 million; this year, a new record was set at $2,779,070.
An anonymous donor gave $1 million after IWU reached $1.5 million during the sing-day campaign; another anonymous donor gave an hourly $5,000 boost to departments that received the most marked gifts from donors. Another large donation, $30,000, will go to scholarships for first-generation college students.
All together, nearly 4,000 people donated.
"Year after year, our donors demonstrate their dedication, affinity, and love of this university by setting a new giving record. It’s both inspirational and motivational to see the entire IWU community come together to give back,” Val Hawkins, IWU's interim assistant vice president for advancement, said in a news release Monday.
Since its launch 11 years ago, "All in for Wesleyan" has raised more than $15.8 million.
Founded in 1850, IWU enrolls about 1,600 students. Last week, the school announced its next president will be former Illinois State University athletics director Sheahon Zenger.
