Giving tops 26,000 contributions during UF’s annual 24-hour ‘Stand Up and Holler’

Fueled primarily with small donations, UF’s giving day is among the most successful in academia

Contact: Luke Anderson, 352-392-8950, landerson@uff.ufl.edu

 GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A school record 26,052 gifts from Gators across the globe were received by the University of Florida during its 24-hour “Stand Up and Holler: Gator Nation Giving Day” on Feb. 17. Contributions from thousands of alumni, students and others on that day will boost scholarships, enhance academic programs and support outreach projects that benefit families and communities.

 Now in its fourth year, “Stand Up and Holler” is credited as a significant contributor to UF’s climb last fall into the Top 5 of public universities. Alumni giving is one of the benchmarks U.S. News and World Report uses to calculate its annual rankings. UF’s annual giving day is among the most successful in academia, and has created the opportunity for all Gators to invest in the university.

 Funds raised during the annual giving day have also contributed to the success of the university’s $3 billion Go Greater campaign. The eight-year campaign — the most ambitious in UF’s history and one of the largest ever in higher education — has raised more the $3.6 billion, with roughly six months remaining.

 “I’m so grateful to the members of the UF community, and to our alumni and friends, for their love and devotion to UF,” UF President Kent Fuchs said. “Whether giving generously so that our professors and students have every opportunity to succeed, cheering for UF student athletes or proudly showing their pride by wearing the orange and blue, they are making amazing things happen for this university and its positive influence on people and their lives.”

 Gators from 12 countries and every state participated in this year’s “Stand Up and Holler,” giving a combined $20.2 million. Among this year’s highlights are:

• The College of Journalism and Communications received 4,177 gifts — the most of all individual colleges, while the $6 million raised by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was the single largest amount. Another big winner was UF Athletics, with 3,632 gifts for $3.8 million.
• 92 Gator Clubs and alumni association affiliate groups, stretching from Seattle to Key West, combined for 3,330 gifts and more than $167,000. The Gator Band Alumni Association’s 575 gifts for $40,562 were the most of all clubs and affiliates.
• While by far most contributions came from within the United States, five donations were from Australia, and two each from Japan, China, Canada and Bermuda.

“There’s an unquestionable correlation between UF’s rise to the Top 5 and ‘Stand Up and Holler.’ When alumni, students and friends show that kind of passion for their university, UF is unstoppable,” said Brian Danforth, the UF Alumni Association’s executive director. “One of the reasons UF is a great university is because of the heartfelt support of the Gator Nation.”

 UF’s annual giving day is named “Stand Up and Holler” as a tribute to the beloved Gator football game cheer made famous by George Edmondson Jr., better known to fans as “Mr. Two Bits.” Edmondson’s iconic orange-and-blue striped necktie is used as a symbol to promote the campaign, with replicas as long as 30 feet strategically placed throughout the UF campus.

 The next “Stand Up and Holler: Gator Nation Giving Day” is tentatively scheduled for February 2023.

 The 169-year-old University of Florida has a long history of established programs in international education, research and service, and is one of only 17 public, land-grant universities in the prestigious Association of American Universities. It is ranked No. 5 in the most recent U.S. News and World Report’s list of public universities.