The Northwest Missouri State University community will dedicate 1,905 minutes to raising support for the institution as it participates in the inaugural Bearcat Day of Green Sept. 23-24.

Northwest, which was founded in 1905, and the Northwest Foundation hope the virtual event will continue the momentum of the University’s Forever Green fundraising campaign. The institution launched the campaign publicly last October with a goal to raise $45 million for initiatives centered on academic excellence, scholarships, student life, and other donor-directed gifts. To date, the Forever Green campaign has raised more than $48.5 million.

Northwest alumni and ambassadors already are actively working to raise awareness for the event, which aligns with the ongoing Forever Green campaign and is designed to raise funds for a variety of causes that will impact the lives of students.

“Northwest wanted to start a new tradition that embraces the energy and pride that over 80,000 alumni and friends share for Northwest,” Dr. Bob Machovsky, the University’s director of alumni relations and annual giving, said. “The inaugural Bearcat Day of Green will allow for the Bearcat community to come together to celebrate Northwest by supporting the areas that mean the most to them. Bearcat Day of Green is about Northwest and how Bearcats can unite to lift up this special place to new levels of success.”

Participants in the Bearcat Day of Green may choose to give to areas such as academic excellence, scholarships or Bearcat athletics. Gifts also may be designated to specific initiatives such as the Agricultural Learning Center, KXCV-KRNW radio, any number of Northwest funds supporting diversity and inclusion, the Bearcat Food Pantry or the Pay It Forward Fund, which provides assistance to Northwest students who are struggling financially while engaging them with resources to help them be successful.

“With so many areas that one can choose to support at Northwest, supporting giving to the University has never been so important to help our students continue to achieve the success for which Bearcats are known,” Machovsky said. “Bearcat Day of Green provides the opportunity for Bearcats to give to areas that matter most to them.

Donors also may choose to give to the Northwest Fund, an unrestricted fund that supports the University’s most significant needs.

During the Bearcat Day of Green, donors have the option to make a one-time gift to Northwest or create a donor challenge by defining a gift based on a number of donations or giving amount by others. They also can help “unlock” additional gifts to University initiatives through their individual contributions. Throughout the event, participants may follow the giving campaign’s progress on social media through Northwest Alumni Association accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.