The morning began with 30-degree temperatures and gray clouds hanging over campus in the heart of Virginia. Despite the gloomy weather and the bustling movement of students and faculty participating in Symposium on the Common Good Day, there was no short supply of thankfulness as Lancers from across the community stopped by a table at the entrance of Dorrill Dining Hall to take part in National Philanthropy Day festivities.
Planned by the Student Philanthropy Council—a group of philanthropic-minded student leaders who have a passion and love for the alma mater—Longwood's National Philanthropy Day activities mirror those happening across the country as colleges, universities and nonprofits of every size and background spotlight the crucial impact that philanthropy has on their respective causes.
Involving students in the philanthropic process is essential, and the University strives to produce service-oriented leaders—what we call citizen leaders—who will give their time, talent and treasure to causes they are passionate about long after graduating from Longwood.
The Student Philanthropy Council, formed in August of 2019, is a group of peers who support the work of the Office of Institutional Advancement, serve as ambassadors for the University, and help to cultivate and enrich the culture of philanthropy that Longwood believes is central to our well-being and growth as an institution.
Longwood's National Philanthropy Day festivities included student tabling inside Dorrill Dining Hall (pictured above). The tabling allowed those waiting in line to enter the dining hall an opportunity to engage in conversations about philanthropy more broadly, write thank you postcards to Longwood donors, and learn some quick facts about the role that generosity has had in shaping the University community we all love.