The inaugural #oakwoodgivingtuesday campaign starts at midnight, Tuesday, December 2, until 11:59 p.m. In just 24 hours on December 2, our goal is to raise $25,000 for Oakwood University in celebration of giving and generosity.

 

Before going shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, plan to invest your resources in the mission of Oakwood University. Whether $10,000, $1,000, $100, or $25, your gift is valuable at any level and will help us reach our December 2nd goal of $25,000 in one day.

 

We are especially reaching out to our GOLD - that's "Graduates Of the Last Decade." All of our alumni from the classes of 2004 to 2014 are challenged to give a collective minimum of $5,000 to your alma mater. A generous Oakwood alum has already committed to match your gift to reach a total of $10,000 to support the next generation of servant leaders, like you.

 

Call, Facebook, Tweet, Snapchat, text, and Instagram your family, friends, and classmates to give a gift of any amount to any campaign: annual fund, departmental gift, scholarships, etc. You choose. Blow up social media and promote #oakwoodgivingtuesday and make a difference in the lives of students.
 

It's simple:

1. Go to www.ougiving.com.
2. Enter your donation amount.
3. Select a campaign, any campaign you like. Scroll down and you choose.
4. Complete required fields. Be sure to enter your class year if you are an alum.
5. Make a comment, such as, "I designate my gift to the Business Department."
6. Spread the word.  Invite 10 of your friends and family to join you in #oakwoodgivingtuesday.

Both one-time gifts and reccurring gifts count towards our Giving Tuesday goal.

 

For more information, please call (256) 726-7584.

The annual UNCF Women's Leadership Tea attracted nearly 100 businesswomen, Oakwood staff, students, local clergy, and other women in leadership to The Ledges of Huntsville, on November 16.

 

One of four events in the annual UNCF North Alabama Campaign, the Tea is designed  to bring awareness of the impact of the UNCF to women who believe and participate in the power of philanthropy. ERC, Inc., a local woman-owned corporation, sponsored this year's event, so all proceeds were added to the campaign total.

 

Jacquelyn Gates Shipe, executive director of the International Services Council of Alabama and former Oakwood Vice President of Advancement & Development, received the first UNCF Ramona Young Philanthropist Award. The award is named in memory of Ramona Young, an Oakwood alumna and philanthropist, for her volunteerism and philanthropic efforts.

 

"We are grateful for those that participated in the event to raise funds for the United Negro College Fund and Oakwood University," said Cheri Wilson, CFRE, director of Development, and event coordinator.

 

For more information about the UNCF North Alabama Campaign and Huntsville's 37th Annual UNCF Gala, contact Wilson at (256) 726-7584, or visit the website.
 

(l-r) Dr. Samuel London, chairman of the History and Political Science Department; guest speaker, Peggy Allen Towns; and Diedre Swoope, assistant professor of history. [Photo by William Hampton]

 

On November 17, local African American historian, Peggy Allen Towns, presented her research of local African Americans to the Oakwood University Historical Society. The audience of Historical Society members, the Department of History and Political Science, and individuals from the community listened attentively as Towns presented highlights from her first book, Duty Driven: The Plight of North Alabama's African Americans During the Civil War. Towns has done extensive research on the roles of early African American pioneers in North Alabama, the United States Colored Troops in North Alabama during the Civil War, and the Scottsboro Boys Trial. After her presentation, Towns autographed copies of her book. 

 

During the annual Phonathon last week (Nov. 16-20), approxi-mately 26 Oakwood University students, under the leadership of Phonathon coordinator Lewis Jones, called almost 15,000 alumni and friends to raise funds for the institution. Student callers were trained by the Wilson-Bennett company in giving and receiving accurate information.

 

Early reports indicate that this event was a successful one. The goal was $50,000; before the final tally, $40,000 had already been pledged by our alumni and friends.

 

Prior to the Phonathon, approximately 17,000 pieces of mail were sent to individuals, asking them to "be kind, be generous when you get that call." Then, as part of the call itself, students let folk know about the different events that are happening on the campus of Oakwood University. Because people like to give to specific causes, students shared information about the new Peters Media Center, and the renovations going on at Carter Hall.