The University of Tennessee Health Science Center marked its most successful Giving Day yet on Tuesday, April 29, surpassing fundraising and participation goals and highlighting the strength of its community of supporters.
This year’s Giving Day brought in a record-breaking $956,246 from 1,361 donors – well beyond the goal of 1,250 donors and nearly $300,000 more than last year’s total.
The one-day philanthropic event, led by the Office of Advancement, invited alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends to support the university with gifts of any amount. Support came from across the country, with donors in 37 states recognizing the ongoing need to invest in health science education, research, and care.
“What an amazing outpouring of generosity, and what a testimonial to the UT Health Science Center vision: Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities,” said Vice Chancellor for Advancement Brigitte Grant. “Individuals from across Tennessee and the country have now joined us and affirmed the fact that health is at the core of each of our lives.”
Giving Day 2025 had a special focus on cancer research, with all gifts – regardless of the fund they supported – matched for the newly established Cancer Discovery Fund. The cause struck a powerful chord with donors, resulting in $332,570 in contributions. The fund will support the work of UT Health Science Center’s cancer researchers as they seek better ways to diagnose and treat cancer for patients in Tennessee and beyond.
All six of UT Health Science Center’s colleges – Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy – exceeded their fundraising goals, demonstrating widespread enthusiasm for the institution’s mission. Additionally, donors supported a total of 138 funds, exhausted two gift matches, and met four challenges that increased each gift’s impact.
“No matter what amount you gave and no matter what fund you gave to, your support is incredibly valuable, so thank you very much for your support,” Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD, said in a video message to donors.
On Friday, May 2, UT Health Science Center celebrated a Day of Gratitude, inviting students, faculty, and staff to submit video messages thanking donors for their generosity and sharing how donors’ gifts have benefited them.
The next major fundraising initiative, the UT Health Science Center Family Campaign in September, will aim to further strengthen the culture of philanthropy within the university community to support the training of Tennessee’s health care workforce, the delivery of exceptional clinical care across the state, and groundbreaking research to develop future cures.