On Tuesday, October 1, Barnard’s community came together during Columbia Giving Day 2024 to grow and give together, garnering essential funds that directly support the College’s extraordinary students.
With the shared goal of raising unrestricted financial support, the Barnard community demonstrated the impact of collective generosity by contributing over $1.6 million (and counting) to the Barnard Annual Fund. These contributions fuel such vital areas as financial aid, student success and well-being, and innovation in emerging fields. The fund also supports cutting-edge educational software, advanced technologies, and pioneering research and new equipment, while ensuring that Barnard students have the resources they need to thrive.
The excitement of the day lasted 24 hours, with many of Barnard’s 38,000 alumnae across diverse class years showing pride and moving the College up the leaderboards in the competition against other schools. Overall, Barnard finished in second place for most gifts — ahead of Columbia College — and earned $8,500 in additional funds made possible by Columbia through the daylong and hourly challenges, including being randomly selected for gifts made during the midnight hour.
This year, Barnard also hosted several College-specific challenges designed to promote friendly competition among peer groups.
Thanks to the incredible support from the Barnard community, we have officially reached the $1 million milestone, securing additional challenge funds from Barnard’s Board of Trustees. But that’s not all: The community rallied to make more than 135 gifts in honor of Barnard’s 135th anniversary, unlocking President Laura Rosenbury’s challenge gift as well. This achievement is a testament to the connectedness of our community and will have a lasting impact on the future of Barnard and our students.
President Rosenbury shared these sentiments:
“I would like to thank everyone who joined us for Giving Day and expanded the reach of the Barnard Annual Fund. I’m deeply appreciative of all the ways the Barnard community shows up for our members, especially for our students. With this strong foundation, I know we will continue to grow together.”
View Barnard’s Giving Day 2024 results.
Spreading Gratitude
In addition to donating throughout the day, Barnard parents and alumnae — including Bina Kalola ’91, Daphne Fodor Philipson ’69, Dara Sicherman Salett P’27, Deanna and Eugene Lee P’27, Eileen and Sebastian Tongson P’26, Gloria Lu P’26, JIeh Greeney ’03, Jo Ann Engelhardt ’75, Luci Leykum P’28, Olivia Sirianni ’15, Sandra Will ’01, Vivien Li ’75, and Wanqing Iris Zhi P’26 — proudly shared memories, gratitude, and motivations for giving.
The Class of 1993 led the day with the most dollars raised, and the Class of 1969 led the day with most gifts made.
Daphne Fodor Philipson ’69 shared why she gives back to Barnard on Giving Day:
“I am part of a family of alumnae that bring joy into my life every day. … Knowing Barnard women has made me realize how vital a Barnard education is and that it must continue its goal of empowering women to be the leaders of the future, and it cannot do this without the support of its alumnae. This is why Giving Day is such an important part of the alumnae calendar.”
Alumnae and friends on social media participated in the #IDYourImpact trivia challenge, showcasing some of the places, programs, and experiences made possible by contributions to the Barnard Annual Fund. Those who guessed correctly were randomly chosen to receive Barnard swag, including notebooks, hats, and scarves
There was particular enthusiasm, both in person and online, for this year’s limited-edition Barnard pouch, which will be sent as a token of gratitude to all members of the community who donated $100 or more to Team Barnard in honor of Giving Day.
Global Gatherings Near and Far
Members of the Barnard community gathered virtually for a keynote address by Barnard trustee Maryam Banikarim ’89, P’21, to celebrate our robust global community and share inspiration from Banikarim’s life view, presented in her recent TED Talk, “Life’s an obstacle course — here’s how to navigate it.”
Banikarim shared reflections of her time at Barnard:
“It was where I found my voice. In a small oasis, within a larger university, in an incredible and diverse city, I found inspiration, encouragement, and confidence. I found a place where everyone was welcome. I found others who were unafraid to be individuals who were driven to care not just for themselves but also for the world beyond themselves. In short, I found community and belonging.”
Students gathered at the Diana Center to participate in Barnard’s Giving Day Flowergrams, sending a sunflower and a message of friendship to someone via a gift to the Barnard Annual Fund in their honor. And to keep the momentum going, a special on-campus reception welcomed Barnard faculty, staff, and key supporters in recognition of all they do for the College.
In addition to events held on Barnard’s campus, alumnae joined together regionally to show their support for Giving Day. They gathered from coast to coast, reconnecting and celebrating their Barnard pride.
Giving Day contributions to the Barnard Annual Fund amplify the effect that each gift has on creating limitless pathways for students. The Annual Fund helps the College meet the growing needs and ambitious priorities across campus — from research and innovation in new and expanded fields of study to programming that fosters success in and out of the classroom.
Michael Farley, Vice President of Development and Alumnae Relations, shared these reflections about the day:
“Giving Day is a unique opportunity for us to recognize what investing directly in one’s personal journey, growth, and success can achieve. Since its founding in 1889, Barnard’s commitment to a broadly inclusive future has been rooted in a legacy of women who set out to accomplish bold, brave, and brilliant ideas while remaining fearless about even the toughest challenges. We are deeply grateful to the Barnard community for their support and all the ways they continue to propel us toward an even brighter future.”
Giving Day brings the entire community together for 24 hours of celebration and reflection, highlighting the incredible possibilities made available by individual investment, collective purpose, and belief in the promise of a higher education. The day serves as a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we come together to support the next generation of leaders.
