In just over 24 hours, the Pacific community will come together in a fun, competitive and generous online effort to enrich all aspects of the student experience. Pacific Gives 2023 kicks off at noon Tuesday and runs through noon on Wednesday.  

Last year Pacific Gives raised more than $1.7 million from alumni, staff, faculty, parents and friends. And every gift counted: Of that record-breaking total, 75% of gifts received were $100 or less.  

“Our alumni and friends outdo themselves every year,” said Scott Biedermann '05, '20, vice president for development and alumni relations. “I’m excited to see what incredible opportunities will be made possible for students this year when we all give what we can, together.” 

Gifts made during Pacific Gives go to work immediately. In 2022, more than $7,000 in gifts to the Paul Winters Tournament Endowment—including a generous challenge gift from the Pacific Forensics Alumni Club—allowed the university’s nationally ranked speech and debate team to travel the country competing in local and national tournaments. The skills participants gain translate to all areas of their lives. 

“It’s really helped me understand how to persuasively communicate something,” said political science major and debate team member Daneli Santillan ’25. “It also has helped me with writing and reading comprehension because there is a lot of research involved.” 

Donors who give before noon Tuesday will have their gift doubled by an early participation match. This year’s early giving effort includes 100% participation by the university’s Board of Regents. 

There are more than 50 matches and challenges ready to multiply the impact of gifts, doubling donations and unlocking additional funds when participation goals are met, including:  

• Pacific Fund Donor Challenge. The Pacific Fund impacts every part of the student experience, providing new programs, tuition assistance, food and basic necessities, and more. The first 75 donors to the Pacific Fund will unlock a $1,000 gift, and the next 100 donors will unlock a $2,500 gift.
• Dean Robert Heyborne’s 100th Birthday Challenge. In honor of the late Dean Heyborne’s 100th birthday, the Lowry-Heyborne family will make a $6,500 gift when 20 donors contribute to the Heyborne Endowed Scholarship, which supports engineering students.
• Scholarship Match for First-Generation Students: A generous donor will match the first $5,000 in gifts to the Benjamin and Janie Reddish Endowed Scholarship supporting Community Impact Program students in Benerd College.
• Athletics Director’s Team Challenges: The three men’s teams and three women’s teams with the most donors will earn bonuses: first place teams receive $2,500, second place teams receive $1,500 and third place teams receive $1,000 for their programs.
• Food Pantry Challenge: When 50 Tigers donate to the Pacific Food Pantry, they’ll unlock an additional $1,000 gift from a generous donor.

“Pacific is fortunate to be supported by generous donors all year long, but I am always proud to see the creativity, ingenuity, dedication and spirit that emerge during Pacific Gives,” said President Christopher Callahan.  

In addition to giving, those who are extra-passionate about Pacific can still sign up to be Pacific Gives Ambassadors. This year, the university has a goal of 175 You+2 participants, which are registered ambassadors who make a gift and recruit two others to join them using a custom giving link. You+2 participants earn limited edition Pacific swag. 

All Pacificans are encouraged to spread the word to family and friends and through social media using the hashtag #PacificGives. Donations can be made online.