Philanthropy Week Closes with Record Donation

November 30, 2018

Alumni around the world joined forces to say #ThankYouCEU and raise a record amount in support of the university during this year’s #CEUPhilanthropyWeek.

From November 26 to 30, alumni contributed to the future of this institution, via global alumni meet-ups, on-campus events, including a special Alumni Donors Reception (SEE PHOTOS), and an online campaign. Thank you, donors!

That effort got a phenomenal boost when alumnus and CEU benefactor Konstantin Kurganov (LEGS ’94, Ukraine) pledged a $50,000 matching gift  to the Alumni Campaign, with a challenge to alumni to join him in supporting CEU at this critical time.

“Studying at CEU was the great opportunity in my life,” he said. “I wanted to say ‘thank you’ for that.”

Konstantin said he was inspired to give after hearing student testimonies during a special alumni donors reception at CEU on Tuesday Nov. 27. As a result, From now until Dec 31, Konstantin will match all gifts, dollar for dollar, to the campaign, doubling donors’ impact.  Thank you, Konstantin! SEE PHOTOS. 

Week of gratitude

Philanthropy Week kicked off on Monday with on-campus events, including the annual Bake It, Make It Forward sale. Students and alumni offered home baked goodies and special skills in exchange for contributions to the Alumni Campaign and the InDaHouse charity.

Organized by the Student Philanthropy Council and the Alumni Relations Office, the event brought together more than 200 donors on campus - students, alumni, staff and facutly - who raised more than 215,000 HUF, an increase from last year's event. THANK YOU, everyone! 

Tuesday night saw the first of ten global Alumni Meet-ups, during which alumni gathered to share memories and give thanks for their CEU experience. Alumni were also encouraged to do so via the #ThankYouCEU social media campaign.

Tuesday’s donors reception drew more than 50 CEU students, alumni and staff to campus. Alumni donors had the chance to meet this year’s class of alumni-supported students and hear their stories – which inspired Konstantin’s pledge!

Tonight the last four alumni meetups are scheduled for New York, Moscow, Tbilisi, Belgrade and Baku. The week’s previous events took place in Istanbul, Geneva, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Prague. An additional meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, is slated for December 15.

HUGE THANKS to all alumni, students, faculty and staff who got active and showed their support during PhilanthropyWeek!