The fourth annual Founders Day Challenge was a success, bringing in $227,875 from 827 donors in just 36 hours. Ninety-eight students, 462 alumni, 164 parents, and 251 faculty and staff members came together to surpass the goal of 750 donors. Meeting this challenge led to a $50,000 gift from Rob Johnson, SPA/BS '81, a vice president of the AU Alumni Board. Donors also unlocked the Kogod School of Business Challenge, the College of Arts and Sciences Challenge, and the Parent Challenge, securing another $30,000 for AU.

Donors designated gifts to whichever schools, programs, organizations, or initiatives at the university that they wanted to support. Some of the most popular funds included the AU Fund for Excellence, the School of International Service Dean's Fund, and the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Fund.

Support for the university-wide giving event was global. Gifts came from as far as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan!

Founders Day is one of American University's most enduring traditions. It was first celebrated on February 21, 1931, with a banquet and pageant sponsored by the Women's Guild of the university. There were more than 200 guests and $5,000 was raised for the Guild's scholarship fund.

We can't wait to see what the AU community will achieve next year!