Annual Cares Day raises more than $2 million

The hearts of many colors in the Cal Lutheran Cares Day logo are obviously in the right place because this year nearly 1,800 donors participated in the most successful annual fundraising campaign ever. On April 12, donors made 2,352 gifts to Cal Lutheran Cares Day that totaled more than $2 million.

Students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends of the university in 37 states and eight countries participated, contributing to the areas and initiatives most meaningful to them. Those included athletic programs, campus equity and inclusion, student scholarships, counseling services, veterans, the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival, and our college and schools. Altogether, 29 departments and groups encouraged support for 65 causes and 27 scholarships.

A new scholarship created during this year’s Cares Day was the Asian Students Scholarship Fund. Felix Wang of Best Western Hotel in Thousand Oaks established the endowed scholarship to provide tuition support to Asian students enrolled at Cal Lutheran.

Alumni, students, faculty, staff and others shared stories on the campaign website and across social media about Cal Lutheran’s impact on their lives. Maria Betyadegar ’22, for example, a graduate of the Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program, wrote, “During my time with CLU, I had many struggles such as the pandemic and losing my job, but I did not lose hope and did not lose my motivation because I always had the support to back me up and help lift me up.”

Others who volunteered to be Cares Day Ambassadors provided their friends and families with updates about the campaign throughout the day and late into the night.

University Advancement Vice President Regina Biddings-Muro said Cal Lutheran Cares Day “inspires a wave of positive goodwill. It’s wonderful that the campus community members who serve on the front lines get the chance to tell their stories and hear directly from students as well as the alumni and families who appreciate how their Cal Lutheran experiences set them up for success.”

The next Cal Lutheran Cares Day will be April 3, 2024.