University Advancement

UNC Charlotte and TIAA-CREF have a history of partnering on community engagement projects in support of students at Governor’s Village Schools – recently the two institutions expanded their efforts to address food security and college preparedness.

For this year’s Hunger and Homelessness Week, volunteers from the University and TIAA-CREF, a leading financial services and life insurance company, assembled 18,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now in less than three hours. Plans are in the works for another Stop Hunger Now meal assembly at Vance High School in December.

During televised Charlotte 49ers athletics events, audiences will learn how UNC Charlotte provides students with opportunities through a video developed by the Office of University Communications.

The video was a collaborative effort between University Communications broadcast professionals and the creative firm Tattoo Projects.

Nearly 3,550 undergraduate and graduate students will receive degrees during commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 19.

These graduates will swell the ranks of UNC Charlotte alumni, and they will have an impact in the greater Charlotte community and across the nation, said Jenny Jones, executive director of alumni affairs.

More than 1,000 National Guard members serving in Bosnia will get holiday greetings from UNC Charlotte as a result of the University’s #GivingTuesday event.

“UNC Charlotte’s founding was in part to serve veterans returning from World War II, so it was exciting to see so many students, faculty and staff members come together to support North Carolina National Guard members who will be serving overseas during the holidays,” said Shayna Long, assistant director of annual giving in the Division of University Advancement.

UNC Charlotte’s Hollywood-inspired Giving Green Campaign drew rave reviews from generous faculty and staff members. The result was an epic total of $194,698 in one-time gifts and payroll-deductible pledges to benefit the Arts & Science Council, the State Employees Combined Campaign and the UNC Charlotte Foundation.

Chancellor Philip L. Dubois expressed his appreciation to faculty and staff members who made a financial contribution during a special Giving Green “After Party” in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center Wednesday, Nov. 18.

UNC Charlotte’s use of crowdfunding for smaller campus ventures is achieving positive results.

To date, the Witherspoon Greek Alumni Scholarship is at nearly 80 percent of its goal, and the Niner Student Pantry has met its goal. Sheida Hosseinzadeh’s Memorial Scholarship exceeded its goal of $25,000 dollars and garnered support from local and international donors.

Faculty, staff and student teams with at least six members can submit Crowdfund project applications for spring 2016 through Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Social media has altered fundraising, and the UNC Charlotte Division of University Advancement is assisting members of the Niner Nation to take advantage of the trend to solicit small gifts for various campus ventures.

Crowdfund UNC Charlotte provides an online platform to students, faculty and staff to generate funding for ideas significant to them.

Alumnus Robert Niblock, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Lowe’s Companies Inc., is donating $2.5 million to UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business. His gift will support the Student Center for Professional Development in the Belk College, which will be named the Robert A. Niblock Student Center for Professional Development.

This week, the Giving Green Campaign spotlight shines on the Arts & Science Council, another of the beneficiaries supported by the University’s centralized, unified workplace giving program. Community organizations devoted to dance, history/heritage, music, science/nature, theatre and visual arts benefit from support through the Arts & Science Council, a leading player in the region since 1958. Take a few minutes to watch this video to find out how ASC-affiliated organizations have had a positive impact for fellow 49ers.

The nearly 1,000 charities affiliated with the State Employees Combined Campaign are in the Giving Green Campaign spotlight this week. This short film features UNC Charlotte employees sharing how they are staking their claim with an SECC nonprofit.