When the Brothers of Christian Instruction stood in a farmer's field at the corner of North Market and Easton in North Canton, Ohio, they formed a vision - a vision to turn 50 acres of alfalfa into a college campus. This vision lay on a foundation of faith, courage and selfless hard work. That vision was realized on November 17, 1960, when the seven founding Brothers, comprising the entire faculty, welcomed the incoming class of sixty-seven "gentlemen" to, then, Walsh College.
That date has since become known as Founders' Day, a day in which the Walsh University community celebrates the Brothers of Christian Instruction and their founders, Fr. John Marie De La Mennais and Fr. Gabriel Deshayes. In honor of the Brothers and their commitment to education and Walsh University, November 17 also marks the beginning of a fundraising initiative at Walsh that will conclude on Giving Tuesday, November 28.
During this time, all gifts received will be designated to the Brothers of Christian Instruction Endowed Scholarships, which aid in continuing the Brothers’ mission of making sure that a Walsh University education is attainable for all students, regardless of income.
By now everyone knows Black Friday and Cyber Monday as the best times to score deals for the holidays. Perhaps lesser known, the day after Cyber Monday has become recognized as Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to helping others through the gift of your time, donations, goods or your voice. At Walsh University, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to honor the service and philanthropic efforts of Walsh’s founders, the Brothers of Christian Instruction.
"Last year we recognized the contributions of Walsh’s founding fathers through our Brothers Appreciation Challenge in conjunction with Giving Tuesday and raised $16,500 from November 17-28. Not only did we exceed our $10,000 goal, but we were also able to secure an additional $10,000 match to benefit Walsh students," said Vice President for Advancement Eric Belden. "We’re excited to honor these remarkable men again this year as we look to once again exceed our goal and provide valuable resources and scholarship opportunities to impact the lives of Walsh students."
Every donation makes a big impact, no matter the size. Current Walsh students have also demonstrated their support by donating and participating in the Brother Charlie Bowlathon, the proceeds from which will also benefit the Giving Tuesday campaign.
For more information or to become a social media ambassador, please contact Katie Lewis at klewis@walsh.edu. Follow along the progress on social media with #WalshU #GivingTuesday.