Vice President for College Advancement Nikki Khurana-Baugh addresses students, faculty, and staff inside the Kaplan Recreation Center during the kickoff of the annual “Go Blue for MSMC” campaign on Friday, October 23. The week-long fundraising push aims to raise $100,000 for academic, athletic, and student-led initiatives across campus.
Mount Saint Mary College officially kicked off its annual Go Blue for MSMC fundraising campaign on Friday, October 23, inviting alumni, families, community members, and friends of the college to come together and help the Mount’s Knights climb higher.
Running from October 23 through October 30, the week-long campaign aims to raise $100,000 in direct support of the students, athletic teams, clubs, and academic programs that define the Mount experience.
This year, Go Blue features more than 30 participating campus initiatives, ranging from athletics and academics to student support services, allowing donors to direct their gifts to the specific causes that matter most to them.
The kickoff gathering brought together campus leadership, coaches, faculty, and student-athletes, opening with a blessing and remarks by campaign co-chair Fr. Gregoire Fluet, Vice President for Mission and Ministry. Samantha Howe, director of Athletics, serves as co-chair.
“Today marks the start of a weeklong push where every post, every share, and every gift truly helps our Knights climb higher,” said Nikki Khurana-Baugh, Vice President for College Advancement. “I have every confidence in our ability to do it. Every dollar that is raised goes directly back to support the various initiatives, the clubs, the athletic teams – the things that truly enhance our students’ experience at the Mount.”
Khurana-Baugh also recognized the campus-wide teamwork driving the campaign: “I want to give a massive, massive thank you to our champions, our project leaders, our coaches, our faculty, and staff that really own and take on these initiatives,” she said. “Your support in stepping forward, and really putting your passions into action, is invaluable.”
In addition to direct donations, supporters have the opportunity to help their favorite campus causes earn a share of $20,000 in bonus funding. The prize pool is made possible through a $10,000 contribution from local restaurateurs Nick Citera and Nicholas DiBrizzi, owners of Pizza Shop, Hudson Taco, and Cosimo’s, as well as $10,000 from the Mount Saint Mary College Alumni Association Board.
Four participating initiatives will each earn a $5,000 bonus on top of their grassroots fundraising totals. To ensure fair competition across campus, the awards are split evenly between athletic and non-athletic programs, with both categories offering one $5,000 prize for the highest overall dollars raised and another $5,000 prize for securing the largest number of unique donors contributing $25 or more.
To make a gift, view participating initiatives, or track the campaign’s progress through October 30, visit www.msmc.edu/goblue.