Since 2015 Giving Day has been a staple event for the University of Wyoming. Every October, thousands of donors from all over the world participate in this 24-hour fundraising event. The money that is raised goes to various programs across campus, such as student organizations, scholarship funds, athletics, colleges, and more.

Giving Day has done wonders for the university. This annual tradition has raised over $4 million from more than 9,000 donors. The help from these donors and their gifts means so much, and the effect of their donations has been remarkable. This year, Giving Day 2026 is October 21 and 22 from noon to noon!

Give on UW Giving Day

One program on campus that Giving Day has benefited is Every Poke Nourished Campaign. This campaign is a food security initiative at the University of Wyoming designed to combat student hunger by supporting the Pokes Food Share Pantry and the Meal Swipe Sharing program. The campaign has raised funds to purchase food, hygiene products, and personal care items, as well as provide free resources to UW students, staff, and faculty.

Jess Dooley is the Food Security Coordinator and Basic Needs Officer III. She has been with the Pokes Center for Community Resources (PCCR) since its inception and has a passion for fundraising and helping people. Dooley is the person who does a lot of the coordinating around Giving Day and overall organization of the PCCR.

The PCCR is set up to feel like a real store complete with friendly and helpful staff.

A clothing closet lives within the PCCR where students have access to a variety of different items.

Since 2021, Giving Day has helped Every Poke Nourished Campaign successfully raise over $30,000. This has generated a positive change for the campus community, and I have been able to help firsthand.

Through my internship with the University of Wyoming Foundation, I had an opportunity to support Every Poke Nourished Campaign. I got to write handwritten notes to all who gave to the Campaign in 2025. The list of donors was extensive, but that brought forth a feeling of gratitude, because the donors on this list have supported extraordinary work to make this campaign and its goals come to fruition.

Giving Day and this campaign have shown me how necessary philanthropy is to a student body. Philanthropy is essential to any university because philanthropy promotes the welfare of others through generous giving. People can participate in philanthropy in many ways, such as; giving time, money, and/or resources all with the goal to make situations and circumstances better for others.

As a student, participating in philanthropy is vital because it builds essential leadership skills, deepens empathy, broadens one's perspective, allows hands-on experiences, and helps apply academic concepts to real-world problems.

The donors who gave this campaign understand the importance of community, giving back and the necessity of these resources. The money raised from Giving Day has helped the Pokes Center for Community Resources expand the pantry. The PCCR is now located in the basement of the union and acts like a mini convenience store.

The entrance to the PCCR on the bottom level of the Wyoming Union.

The PCCR offers a variety of food options.

The PCCR offers a refrigerated section for fresh produce and dairy products.

Despite the recent expansion, growth never stops. Dooley already has big plans for this upcoming Giving Day and goals to help continue to support the community.

"We are trying our best to grow, not just with food security but hoping to expand a lot of basic needs services in general. Hopefully getting some help for pregnant and parenting students, housing and rental resources, maybe some kind of fund. But basically, expanding our basic needs services," said Dooley.

I'm extremely grateful I was able to be a small part of this campaign by taking the time to thank donors. It's success wouldn't be possible without the hard work, dedication, commitment, and support from our generous donors, UW staff, faculty, and volunteers.