WASHINGTON— GW’s third annual Flag Day event was held on April 12 in effort to “educate students, faculty, and staff about the ways in which philanthropy enables the Colonial experience,” said Lauren Savoy, senior director of development and alumni communications.
The even took place in Kogan Plaza, where students participated in various campus activities. According to Campaign GW’s official website, 1,400 thank you cards were written to alumni donors. As an incentive, there was a table in Kogan filled with cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes, that student could take if they wrote a thank you note. There was also a GW Flag Day photo booth where students captured GIFs, as well as special Snapchat filters to celebrate the event. Students also had the opportunity to make a donation to any area of GW, like a student organization for example.
Savoy said, “GW Flag Day is a great opportunity to include the campus in the ongoing efforts to express gratitude to our many supporters.” She also said she works closely with the annual team to help market and support the event’s efforts.
“It’s one of my favorite events every year. We spend months planning GW Flag Day. It gives us the opportunity to talk to students and faculty who are here because of philanthropy – either through scholarships or endowed professorships,” she added, “We hear about the many ways in which donors support life at GW – student organizations, internships, athletics, the library, student emergency funds.”
This is the third year the event was called “Flag Day,” but GW has honored and celebrated donors’ philanthropy, for many years.
Staff from annual giving, which is a part of the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, coordinated Flag Day’s activities. Faculty, staff, and student volunteers executed activities held around campus. “It’s really an all-campus effort and that’s part of what makes it so special,” Savoy said.
“These donors provide the groundwork for our students to make the most out of what Washington and GW have to offer, and (These students) go on to become successful alumni. It’s inspiring,” Savoy added.