(02-15-2016 05:00 PM)lou Wrote:  

(02-14-2016 07:03 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

Quote:#CommitToTheR ‏@riceowlclub
Exciting announcement coming this Monday related to the #1Day1Rice 24-Hour Leap Day giving challenge! #CommitToTheR

Quote:Inspired by this university-wide challenge, an anonymous donor has stepped up and generously provided an additional incentive for supporters of Rice Athletics. If 500 donors designate their challenge gift to the Owl Club on February 29, the Owl Club will receive $100,000.

http://www.riceowls.com/sports/owl-club/onerice.html

That's what I like to see!

Qvestion: Will mere PLEDGES made on Feb. 29 count? I normally make my Owl Club annual gift in April or May, that timing just works out best for me. But if I pledge on Feb 29 will that count toward the total? (If not, guess I'll contribute part of what I usually give on the 29th and pledge the balance...)

I would encourage giving something, even a very small gift, on the 29th just to count towards the 500 (and 5000) donor threshold. From there, make your gifts as planned later in the year.

So does a gift to the Owl Club on the 29th count toward both the 500 and 5000 goals?

(02-15-2016 10:27 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  So does a gift to the Owl Club on the 29th count toward both the 500 and 5000 goals?

Yes, and this biased internet poster thinks a gift to the Owl Club is more important than the annual fund.

I wish they had a feature where they'd take down your donation info, but not actually run it until the 29th. Otherwise, the risk is I won't remember to do it on the 29th.

(02-15-2016 08:14 PM)Ricefootballnet Wrote:  Qvestion: Will mere PLEDGES made on Feb. 29 count? I normally make my Owl Club annual gift in April or May, that timing just works out best for me. But if I pledge on Feb 29 will that count toward the total? (If not, guess I'll contribute part of what I usually give on the 29th and pledge the balance...)

No, pledges don't count. My suggestion is give a token amount on 2/29 to count toward the challenge, and give your usual annual gift in April or May.

(02-15-2016 11:19 PM)ChicagoOwl (BS 07) Wrote:  I wish they had a feature where they'd take down your donation info, but not actually run it until the 29th. Otherwise, the risk is I won't remember to do it on the 29th.

Don't worry; we'll remind you!

Here's some more info on the Owl Club partnership with the Annual Fund Challenge...

If we realize 500 donors to the Owl Club during this 24 hour period, the Owl Club will activate a $100,000 challenge gift. Per my conversation with Josh Thiel, The Rice Annual Fund (RAF) is focused on growing participation and it is thought that the Owk Club sub-challenge will help with this goal. Specifically, the Owl Club is trying to attract roughly 40 percent (500) of all the donors realized last fiscal year (1,258).

Again, this is a participation challenge-- what counts is ANY sized gift, even as small as $5 or $10. Consequently, if you're like me and have already made your annual Owl Club contribution, I'd encourage you to make another on Leap Day for a token amount, so that it counts toward the challenge.

BTW, I have since learned that the RAF will not be conducting the Residential Challenge this year...so if you have not yet given your annual gift to the Annual Fund, Leap Day would be the appropriate time to do so; thereby maximizing the impact.[/quote]

This morning's tweet for those fearful of forgetting (not that some of us would let you!)...

Quote:#CommitToTheR ‏@riceowlclub 2m2 minutes ago
Worried you might forget the #1Day1Rice Leap Day Challenge? You may now schedule your gift for processing on 2/29! http://goo.gl/MFwEFn

(02-17-2016 11:17 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  This morning's tweet for those fearful of forgetting (not that some of us would let you!)...

Quote:#CommitToTheR ‏@riceowlclub 2m2 minutes ago
Worried you might forget the #1Day1Rice Leap Day Challenge? You may now schedule your gift for processing on 2/29! http://goo.gl/MFwEFn

Came here to post this. Thanks, Walt.

I asked to get a link to this page posted on the front page of http://www.riceowls.com for easier visibility. I also asked if there was a way to set up an online donation schedule as well to make it even easier to get in on this challenge. I'll post if something like that comes available.

All this being said, we're out of excuses to get an additional $600k donated to Rice! Set a calendar reminder for the 29th or call now to be sure to get your donation counted in the challenge. Tell your friends, too!

edit: grammar

(02-17-2016 11:17 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  This morning's tweet for those fearful of forgetting (not that some of us would let you!)...

Quote:#CommitToTheR ‏@riceowlclub 2m2 minutes ago
Worried you might forget the #1Day1Rice Leap Day Challenge? You may now schedule your gift for processing on 2/29! http://goo.gl/MFwEFn

I am the Oracle of .. Houston!

Leap Day is this coming Monday, and it's a one day, 24-hour challenge. Here's the latest video from the Athletic Department promoting the Owl Club portion of the challenge (if we can get 500 donors that day, an anonymous donor will contribute $500,000 to the Owl Club)...

http://www.riceowls.com/collegesportslive/?media=525362

http://www.riceowls.com/sports/owl-club/...-body.html

And remember, this is a participation challenge. Any size gift counts toward the challenge. Consequently, even if you have already given your annual donation to the Owl Club (as I have), help the cause by donating another $5 or $10 on Monday.

Similarly, you can give your annual gift to the Rice Annual Fund and give a gift to the Owl Club and have your donations count toward both challenges.

Let's make it happen!!!

(02-08-2016 12:50 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(02-08-2016 12:27 PM)Long Time Owl Wrote:  Do only alumni count or is this for friends also?

From the website:

Quote:WHAT COUNTS
Gifts from Owl parents, undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni and current seniors to the Rice Annual Fund (or to any other area at the university) will count toward the goal of 5,000 donors in 24 hours. Please give what you can: a gift of any size will count!

Gifts from non-affiliated friends are certainly welcome, but they do not seem to be the driver for this particular challenge.

Does the "no friends count rule" apply to the Owl Club Challenge as well?

(02-27-2016 12:44 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(02-08-2016 12:50 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(02-08-2016 12:27 PM)Long Time Owl Wrote:  Do only alumni count or is this for friends also?

From the website:

Quote:WHAT COUNTS
Gifts from Owl parents, undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni and current seniors to the Rice Annual Fund (or to any other area at the university) will count toward the goal of 5,000 donors in 24 hours. Please give what you can: a gift of any size will count!

Gifts from non-affiliated friends are certainly welcome, but they do not seem to be the driver for this particular challenge.

Does the "no friends count rule" apply to the Owl Club Challenge as well?

No, Tiki-- everyone and anyone can contribute and count towards to Owl Club Challenge.

e-mail just received from Dr. K..........

Quote:Owl Club Members:

Thank you for generously contributing to the Owl Club in support of Rice Athletics this fiscal year. Your support through the Owl Club is critical to the academic, athletic and future successes of our student-athletes, and I cannot thank you enough for all you do to help move Rice Athletics forward.

As you are one of our most loyal donors, I am writing to ask you to consider another gift to the Owl Club on Leap Day – tomorrow, February 29 th. As you may have heard, the Owl Club has partnered with the university on the largest giving challenge in Rice history. If 5,000 donors give to any area of the university – including the Owl Club – on Leap Day, the board will donate a remarkable $500,000 to the Rice Annual Fund. Inspired by this university-wide challenge, an anonymous donor has stepped up and generously provided an additional incentive for supporters of Rice Athletics. If 500 donors designate their challenge gift to the Owl Club on February 29, the Owl Club will receive $100,000. This is a tremendous way for fans of Rice Athletics to multiply the impact of their generosity in support of the academic and athletic endeavors of student-athletes, and help the Rice Annual Fund unlock an additional $500,000 of support for undergraduate and graduate education.

Earlier in the fiscal year, we asked our donors to renew at 116 percent of last year’s Owl Club gift amount as part of the 16 Percent in FY16 campaign – thank you to those who have already increased their gift by this amount! If you are still trying to decide what you might give to the Owl Club in support of the challenge tomorrow, please consider contributing an additional 16 percent of your FY16 gift. Your extra boost of generosity will move us one step closer to achieving our $2.5 million goal and sustain the momentum that is building throughout our department.

Thank you again for all you do to support Rice student-athletes. We are excited for our future, and grateful that you share our enthusiasm!

Go Owls!

Joe Karlgaard
Director of Athletics
Rice University
#1Day1Rice

Parents of alumni count for this challenge right? If so, I can account for 2 donations tomorrow for the Owl Club.

(02-28-2016 03:28 PM)owl95 Wrote:  Parents of alumni count for this challenge right? If so, I can account for 2 donations tomorrow for the Owl Club.

Yes. And you can give to both the Owl Club and the Annual Fund, and count toward both challenges.

(02-28-2016 04:10 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(02-28-2016 03:28 PM)owl95 Wrote:  Parents of alumni count for this challenge right? If so, I can account for 2 donations tomorrow for the Owl Club.

Yes. And you can give to both the Owl Club and the Annual Fund, and count toward both challenges.

Does a donation toward just the Owl Club count toward both challenges? That is how I read the message on riceowls.com...

(02-28-2016 06:29 PM)mrbig Wrote:  

(02-28-2016 04:10 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(02-28-2016 03:28 PM)owl95 Wrote:  Parents of alumni count for this challenge right? If so, I can account for 2 donations tomorrow for the Owl Club.

Yes. And you can give to both the Owl Club and the Annual Fund, and count toward both challenges.

Does a donation toward just the Owl Club count toward both challenges? That is how I read the message on riceowls.com...

Yes, I believe so. A donation to ANY designation (e.g., Owl Club, KTRU, MOB, Baker College, Annual Fund) counts towards the Annual Club challenge.