Posted November 2022

On November 29, 2022, BU students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff came together to support giving opportunities that make an enormous difference for students. We want to thank each and every one of our donors who has helped make this year’s Giving Tuesday a success.

This year’s theme was increasing access for all students to all that BU offers. Specifically, Giving Tuesday 2022 highlighted four ways to open doors for students: the General Scholarship Fund, the Center for Antiracist Research Internship Fund, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and the deneen zarada Community Service Memorial Fund.

What these four causes share is an emphasis on increasing opportunities for every student at BU, regardless of their financial circumstances. Scholarships, for example, put the University’s excellent education within reach for students who otherwise could not even consider it.

“My parents have been saving for college since I was born, but it still was not enough for me to afford a lot of the schools I was interested in,” says Sydney Ballard (CAS’24). “Without this scholarship, I would not have been able to attend BU.”

But many of the experiences that make a BU education stand out go beyond the classroom—and they aren’t covered by the cost of tuition. By supporting internships and such programs as UROP, annual gifts make these experiential learning opportunities accessible to all. And, of course, by contributing to research and working on antiracism projects, students make a difference that can have ripple effects far beyond campus.

“I knew medical labs needed computer scientists to do data analysis for them, and my goal with majoring in computer science is to use it in other fields, so being able to see what it’s like in a medical research environment through UROP has been really valuable professionally and personally,” says Sam Wu (CAS’24). “I’ve not only learned the thought process of research through my mentor, but I’ve also met a lot of new people from fields I don’t typically get to work with.”

Making a difference is what motivates many students to perform community service, too. The money raised this year for the deneen zarada fund (named in honor of a CAS’02 graduate who preferred not to capitalize her name) will provide stipends for students in need who want to participate in the Alternative Service Breaks (ASB) program, which pairs them with community groups to work on service projects during spring break.

“Experiences like these create pathways of empathy, understanding, and, to use a phrase from Howard Thurman, common ground,” says Orpheo Speer, director of the Community Service Center. The center’s goal is to raise $65,000 over the next few years to support ASB—and the Giving Tuesday support helped get the ball rolling.

As you can see from the numbers below, all four funds fulfilled their challenge matches. In fact, they went well over the challenge thresholds. Thanks to 143 generous donors, the General Scholarship Fund received a total of $22,512; 43 donors contributed $8,430 to antiracist internships; 93 donors gave $8,287 to the deneen zarada fund, and $4,092 from 42 donors will support UROP.

By the numbers

Total dollars raised

$328,419

Total donors

1,501

Challenges

General Scholarship Fund

$4,995 / 4,995 Matched

The fund ensures that students can attend an affordable BU. By adding to the financial aid students receive, donations help give scholarships to as many deserving students as possible

Center for Antiracist Research Internship Fund

$1,265 / 1,265 Matched

The internship provides opportunities for students to work on a wide range of projects alongside leading experts. In turn, these participants contribute their diverse knowledge, ideas, and passions to the Center.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

$1,840 / 1,840 Matched

Provides funding for faculty-mentored research in the humanities, natural sciences, medicine, arts, and education. Established in 1997, UROP has helped more than 3,000 undergrads with projects ranging from accounting to zebrafish genetics.

deneen zarada Community Service Memorial Fund

$2,022 / 2,022 Matched

The fund was created by friends & family in 2019 to honor deneen zarada, who graduated from BU in 2002. This memorial fund ensures that BU students have access to the Community Service Center’s programs, like ASB, regardless of their financial situation.

Your giving matters

Not just on Giving Tuesday, but every day, your generous support helps make BU more accessible, more inclusive, and more rewarding for all of our students.

Current-use funds, which can be given in any amount, can be deployed at a moment’s notice to provide financial aid and emergency assistance to students, and support causes ranging from clubs to experiential learning opportunities, from athletics to scholarships to live performances.

Every gift, of every size, counts. You can have an impact at BU—and you can choose exactly where to do it.

Not yet a donor? Give now and receive email updates on the impact donors have throughout the year. Visit “Why we give” to read more about the many committed donors to Boston University.