Cal State Long Beach’s inaugural “Giving Day” last month resulted in the campus receiving gifts that totaled more than $1.1 million which school officials said will help fund basic needs, scholarships and study abroad programs.

In an effort to bring together CSULB alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends through the inaugural event, the goals were to connect as many members of the Beach family as possible, said Vice President for University Relations and Development Andrea Taylor.

The 1,550 donors included Schools First Federal Credit Union, Associated Students Inc., the 49er Shops and alumni Kathleen Reams Hansen (1975, ’82) and Bob Summers (1983).

“We heard from alumni and friends from 43 states and two foreign countries,” said Taylor. “A related goal included increasing alumni and student participation which we had 230 student donors.”

Donors could give gifts to any of the four areas—basic needs, Beach Fund, scholarships and study abroad—which were accepted online throughout the day on March 15 and at the on-campus Philanthropy Fair.

According to Taylor, the university receives less than 28 percent of its funding from the state, making the fundraising efforts important to help the campus maintain the level of excellence it has achieved, which was one of the messages shared during Giving Day.