Food, Fun And Philanthropy
Founders Day And Day Of Giving Recap
On Nov. 1, Lynn celebrated Founders Day and Day of Giving with food, challenges, rides and new traditions.
Each year on Founders Day, Lynn pays homage to the university’s founding in 1962. This year, Founders Day and Day of Giving, Lynn’s annual 24-hour fundraiser, fell on the same day.
“Founders Day is my favorite day of the year,” said Laura Cozine, sophomore.
President Kevin M. Ross kicked off the day with his address at the Great Beginnings breakfast. At noon, the university unveiled a new Founders Day tradition: three-wheeler races. To celebrate the collaboration between Day of Giving and Founders Day, alumnus Jeff John pledged to donate $2,500 to Day of Giving if seventy-five people participated in the three-wheeler race.
Eighty-eight members of the Lynn community, including President Ross, competed in the race, and John’s donation brought the Day of Giving proceeds up to $42,423.
“It was an honor to beat President Ross and Mr. Boniforti [in the race],” said Reagan Fox, sophomore. “After the first leg, we thought they had it, but thanks to my partner Andrew Dean we were able to pull through and win not just for us but for the student body.”
For the fourth annual Day of Giving, students and staff called Lynn alumni, parents and friends to request donations for the fundraiser. The day raised $51,908 from 282 donors. These donations help Lynn provide scholarship assistance, hands-on learning experiences, classroom technology advancements, new collaborative learning spaces and much more.
An anonymous donor gifted $20,000 to create the Research Symposium Endowment which gives nine students opportunities in social impact, science and sustainability.
In addition to the organized festivities, eight food trucks came to campus to serve up tasty treats like tacos, loaded fries and Greek dishes. Cookies, brownies and a snow cone truck offered refreshments to students, faculty and staff later in the day.
“The whole community comes together and celebrates the history of Lynn,” said Sydney Vezza, sophomore. “It’s my favorite day of the year.”