We Are One UNI is a week-long philanthropy event hosted by UNI foundations and UNI alumni association between Feb. 22-26. Events will be held throughout the week starting on Monday with the Social Media Contest and ending with “Love a Donor” on Thursday and Friday.

“We Are One is a great way to educate current students on the importance of giving back to UNI in a variety of ways,”  said Connie Hansen, faculty advisor of the student organization Connection Alumni To Students (CATS) and a member of the We Are One committee. “The tagline, ‘Learn. Impact. Thank.’ highlights the three components that we hope students will understand.”

The ‘Learn’ component focuses on educating students, faculty and alumni on the various ways that financial support can be given to UNI.

‘Impact’ comes from the action of giving. The impact these actions have on UNI can help with career connections, scholarships and much more for current and future UNI students, Hansen said.

Lastly, ‘Thank’ is the opportunity for current UNI students to thank donors for impacting their experience at UNI.

The philanthropy group will be holding various events in the upcoming week.

We Are One is hosting a social media contest for students who post on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #WeAreOneUNI and by following and liking the We Are One UNI pages on Monday.

The students involved in CATS will be going around campus ‘paying it forward’ during the CATS on the Prowl event by giving away gift cards to students.

Starting at 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 24 and ending at 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 25, the UNI community will be encouraged to come together to impact current and future students with a Day of Giving.

Tracy Wulfekuhle, member of CATS and the We Are One committee, explains the Love A Donor day.

“We are trying to get UNI alumni and students to interact a little more, and this is our big way to do so,” said Wulfekuhle.“We’re just asking [students] to write one thank you card, that’s all you need. Just three to five minutes saying thank you to the donors who give so much to UNI.”

Love A Donor will be at seven locations all around campus from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. These locations include: Curris Business Building, Russell Hall Lobby, Rod Library, Maucker Union, North Dome Office Suites, McCollum Science Hall and Sabin Hall Lobby.

Similar to Love A Donor for students, all UNI faculty members are encouraged to stop by one of five locations to write a card saying thank you on Feb 26. These locations include: Curris Faculty Lounge Room 327, Sabin Dean’s Conference Room 315, McCollum Biology Lounge 124, Price Lab Field House and North Dome Office Suites.

“We want to educate students and alums about what it does,” said Kyle Soldwisch, Stewardship and Communications coordinator at the UNI Foundation and a member of the We Are One committee.

“We want to give them a chance to make their own impact and then we want to thank the people who have already made a difference.”

Although college students may not have the funds to give financial donations, they are are still encouraged to participate in any way they can.

“We encourage everyone to give and really give to their passion,” said Soldwisch. “The dollar amount really doesn’t concern us. We just want everyone to come together, as many people as possible, to make an impact on the University.”

To learn more about the We Are One UNI week of philanthropy, check out their website through the UNI portal under We Are One UNI.