On Picnic Day, when Aggies everywhere are thinking of their alma mater, the University of California, Davis, will hold its second annual Give Day — a 29-hour fundraising drive that celebrates the theme, “Every Aggie counts: Combined, we change the world.”

More than 100 donors have provided challenge gifts for a wide range of programs at UC Davis and UC Davis Health. Challenge gifts, given by donors to support their favorite programs, encourage and motivate others to participate.

Join fellow Aggies online and on campus from noon on Friday, April 20, until 5 p.m. Saturday, April 21, which is Picnic Day. Students and faculty members who have been supported by philanthropy will be joined by university donors to participate in the Picnic Day Parade to illustrate philanthropy’s impact on research and education at UC Davis. Last year’s Give Day event raised more than $1.2 million from 3,025 gifts.

“UC Davis is entering a new era of strength, from research labs to the athletic fields, and philanthropy is making all the difference as we reach toward even greater heights,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “Together on Give Day, students, faculty, staff, friends of the university and more will come together to show their support during this incredibly important time in UC Davis history.”

Additionally, from April 2 to April 30, UC Davis will host its first-ever Employee Giving Month, inspired by the more than 800 employees from UC Davis and UC Davis Health who participated in Give Day last year.

The first 100 employee gifts given on Give Day will unlock a $10,000 challenge from American Pacific Mortgage for the Larry N. Vanderhoef Staff Scholarship. This staff scholarship assists staff who are interested in furthering their professional education at UC Davis and beyond.

“Give Day and Employee Giving Month invite members of the UC Davis community to be active participants in positive change,” said Shaun Keister, vice chancellor of Development and Alumni Relations. “By giving, UC Davis supporters make a difference in whatever cause matters the most to them, including responding to challenges in human and animal health, the environment, education, the arts and humanities, athletics and more.”

Learn more and participate in UC Davis Give Day and Employee Giving Month.