November 29, 2022 is not just the day after Thanksgiving, it’s also #LehmanGivingTuesday—and marks the sixth consecutive year Lehman has participated in #GivingTuesday, an international, 24-hour viral philanthropy challenge.
Always a community effort, #LehmanGivingTuesday has, over the years, raised funds to support everything from scholarships and books, to a food bank, to service-learning and study abroad.
“#LehmanGivingTuesday reinforces our support for students and academic programs at Lehman college. It is a heartfelt invitation to invest in the many quality programs at the college and our amazing students,” said College president Fernando Delgado.
In 2021, the College raised over $111,000 with the effort to address specific student needs that had intensified during the pandemic. The Herbert H. Lehman Food Bank, emergency microgrants, childcare, and scholarship funds all benefited from donations during the #LehmanGivingTuesday fundraising challenge.
With New York City and the Bronx slowly but steadily recovering from the social and economic disruptions of COVID-19, the College has broadened the scope for 2022 to include its six schools so that each can make tailored appeals to donors. The Alumni Association scholarship fund and the Leonard Lief Library are also designated recipients.
The Schools of Education; Business; Arts and Humanities; Natural and Social Sciences; Professional and Continuing Studies; and Health Sciences, Human Services, and Nursing have already been reaching out directly to alumni with messages from Lehman students describing how the College’s resources have helped them thrive and realize their educational goals.
“Our students are the College’s ideal spokespeople,” said Robert Pagan, Lehman’s director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Fund, who is coordinating the effort. “They know first-hand the transformative opportunities Lehman offers.”
It’s not necessary to wait until after Thanksgiving to make a donation. The #LehmanGivingTuesday website is live and accepting gifts through Dec. 31.
What’s more, donors making gifts of $200 and above will be able to score a pair of tickets to one of several upcoming shows at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts (while supplies last). Seats for El Parrandón De La Gran Manzana, Soweto Gospel Choir, Grupo Niche, “Ain't Misbehavin,” and the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine are on offer.
Started by the 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, #GivingTuesday builds on the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping frenzy to encourage generosity, small-scale philanthropy, and giving back to good causes. CUNY supports the day with its own hashtag, #CUNYTuesday that encourages donors to support its 25 colleges.
To make a gift online or learn about other ways to support this year’s appeal, visit #LehmanGivingTuesday.