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 WCU Stories      April 11, 2025

By Bill Studenc

The final numbers are in for the third annual “One Day for Western,” an all-in day of giving designed to help generate additional financial support for multiple priorities at ÌđčÏÊÓÆ”app.

More than three hundred and sixty-seven thousand seven hundred sixteen. That’s the total number of dollars raised for various university funds through the initiative -- $367,716.43 to be exact. 

One thousand, three hundred seventy-two. That’s the total number of donors who made a gift through “One Day for Western,” held March 26. That 1,372 tally eclipsed the goal of 1,200 total donors for the giving day.

Two hundred ten. That’s the total number of first-time donors who made their first-ever gift to WCU that day.

Three hundred nine. That’s the total number of donors who have contributed to “One Day for Western” since its inception in 2023.

Ninety-seven. That’s how many different funds across the university received contributions. The funds range from the Catamount Club and efforts to renovate WCU’s athletics facilities to endowments to support academic excellence initiatives.

Fifty. That’s how many states are represented on the “One Day” donor board, with at least one contribution from every state in the nation. With just one state remaining on the list of states with no donors, a late-arriving gift from New Hampshire to the Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts Excellence Endowment allowed Division of Advancement staff to “paint the map purple.”

Four hundred thirty-three. That’s the number of people who either joined or renewed their membership in the Catamount Club as part of “One Day for Western.” Securing additional gifts for the WCU athletics booster organization and growing its membership were among the top priorities of this year’s drive.

One million. That’s the number of additional dollars that could be headed the university’s way if Catamount Club membership crests a total of 2,000, thanks to a matching challenge gift from Phillips and Jordan Inc. The company’s CEO, Teddy Phillips, previously pledged $1 million toward athletics facilities renovations – specifically upgrades to E.J. Whitmire Stadium – if the Catamount Club reaches a total of 2,000 members by June 30, 2025. 

Forty-one. That’s the actual number of hours required for the 2025 edition of “One Day for Western,” as donations continued to pour in after the original 24-hour giving period expired, extending the effort to 5 p.m. March 27.

“We went into overtime for this year’s ‘One Day for Western.’ The first 24-hour period was incredible, and we were so very close to hitting many of our goals,” said Rebekah B. Cheney, WCU’s director of annual giving.

“We also found that many of our donors, alumni and friends don’t always pick up the telephone when we call, but they do listen to the voice mail messages we leave, and lots of them got back in touch with us to say they were going to make a gift. We wanted to be sure to give those folks an opportunity to participate in ‘One Day for Western,’” Cheney said.

Wes Cogdill, associate athletics director and director of the Catamount Club, welcomed the organization’s new and returning members.

“Through their commitment to the Catamount Club, our alumni, donors and friends are doing something truly powerful—they’re investing in the success of more than 350 Catamount student-athletes,” said Cogdill. “Their generosity provides the critical resources we need to grow, compete and elevate the student-athlete experience. Together, we’re building championship-caliber facilities and creating a level playing field within the Southern Conference.”

In addition to growing membership in the Catamount Club, this year’s “One Day for Western” prioritized raising sport-specific funds for individual Catamount teams – baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, football, men’s and women’s golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. The effort included seeking contributions to the cheerleading program, the Catamount Club Scholarship Fund and athletics facilities renovations.

The day of giving also emphasized excellence endowments that provide support for all of the institution’s colleges – Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts, Brinson Honors College, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education and Allied Professions, College of Engineering and Technology and College of Health and Human Sciences – and for the Graduate School, Highlands Biological Station and Hunter Library.

Anthony Puntin, the resident of New Hampshire whose contribution resulted in “One Day” donors from all 50 states, directed his gift to the excellence endowment fund in the Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts after receiving emails from WCU leading up to the initiative.

“It seems like a great campaign to raise money for various programs at Western. To be honest, I picked this endowment because I don’t feel I’ve supported the arts enough,” Puntin said. “I am very proud to represent the Granite State with a gift that completed contributions for all 50 states.”

Puntin is not among the campaign’s first-time donors to WCU; he and family members previously established an endowed scholarship fund in memory of his daughter, Alexandra Puntin Pilsbury, a 2017 graduate of WCU’s School of Nursing who died in December 2021 at the age of 26 after a battle with cancer.

“WCU is a very special place for our family” he said. “We interacted with several people at WCU, and they were all top notch. It is our pleasure to give back to WCU for all that it has done for our family.” 

“One Day for Western” included several donor challenges designed to help maximize philanthropic impact. Goals of the challenges varied, with some challenges based on raising specific dollar amounts and others based on donor participation levels.

As part of the day, more than 300 students, faculty and staff attended “One Day of Thankfulness” from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. March 26 on the lawn of A.K. Hinds University Center, where they enjoyed kettle corn, received T-shirts and wrote thank you notes to donors.

All gifts received during “One Day for Western” will count toward the official tally for the ongoing “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million for the university’s academic, student engagement and athletics programs. For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.

For a comprehensive look at “One Day for Western” results, visit the website