Smith Community Shows Support on Giving Day

The final numbers for 2022 Giving Day are in. And this year, the Maryland Smith community was out in full force.

In the ninth annual one-day fundraising marathon, the Robert H. Smith School of Business finished second overall in cash received across the University of Maryland, behind only Athletics, and first among schools on campus.

With $360,390 raised from 722 individuals – including 142 from faculty and staff and 152 from students – this year’s total marked an increase of 113% in giving, up from $169,000 in 2021.

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Victor Mullins, and Nima Farshchi, director of the Center for Social Value Creation, led not just Maryland Smith, but all of UMD in the number of donors acquired.

Maryland Smith was also awarded an additional $6,445 in funding from the University Board of Trustees for winning several campus-wide fundraising challenges.

The abundant participation from the Maryland Smith community was incredible, said Maryland Smith Dean Prabhudev Konana. These generous contributions will greatly assist Maryland Smith as it continues to strive for research excellence, create innovative programs and promote an inclusive learning environment that fosters intellectual discovery.

“This Giving Day was a testament to Smith's very strong community,” said Dean Konana. “The funds raised to promote entrepreneurship, provide scholarships and enhance student experiences will have such a powerful impact on the school's mission, and I'm truly thankful to each of our donors for their confidence in us.”

Between the forging of lifelong friendships and bonds, and the many experiential and networking opportunities that helped shape his career, Khalil Pettus, ’15, says that he felt compelled to participate in Giving Day to help pay it forward for current and future students.

He encourages other alumni to get involved, not just during Giving Day, and find ways to positively impact the Maryland Smith community.

“I hope people view me as one of the many examples of Smith alumni giving back and staying engaged,” says Pettus, vice president at Ardea Partners in New York. “There are so many ways to give back – whether it be giving your time, money, resources (or all of the above) – the most important thing is finding a way to stay connected.”   

In total, UMD set a record of $3,753,152 in donations. This marks the second consecutive year where Giving Day donations increased by roughly $1 million, up from $2.8 million last year and $1.6 million in 2020.