Last year, UT junior Trennie Williams donned an orange cape and mask to become VOLstarterman and promote Be a Hero Day, a twenty-four-hour period when donors are encouraged to visit VOLstarter, UT’s crowdfunding site, and help students and departments raise money for projects that change lives.
Wednesday, April 27, will be the second annual Be a Hero Day, when mild-mannered citizens can join with VOLstarterman to use the power of the Internet to fund worthy student projects.
“You don’t have to wear a cape to make a difference, but it can help,” said Williams.
UT will be encouraging alumni and friends to support worthy projects on VOLstarter and post pictures on social media of themselves wearing orange capes.
“Anybody can be a superhero,” said Lance Taylor, UT’s director of annual giving and student philanthropy. “On VOLstarter every gift, no matter the amount, joins with other gifts to enable something great to happen.”
During last year’s Be a Hero Day, some 220 donors helped raise almost $14,000 for VOLstarter projects, directly supporting UT students, faculty, and staff from all parts of campus.
“Thanks to the contributions to the Young Alumni Scholarship, we are able to provide financial support to students starting their graduate studies,” said Alicia Price, a coordinator with the Center for Leadership and Service. “It makes us feel that we are repaying a gift that was so important to our post-graduate careers.”
A total of five projects were fully funded: Young Alumni Scholarship, DeStress for Success, Spay/Neuter Mobile, Brain Awareness Week and Medal of Honor.
Join the conversation on “Be a Hero” Day by following UT Knoxville Alumni on Twitter (@tennalum), Instagram (tennalum), and Facebook (UT Knoxville Alumni), or by following the #UTHero hashtag.
Find out more about the projects on the VOLstarter website.