UD President Dennis Assanis and his wife, Eleni, and master of ceremony Dave Raymond (right) welcome faculty, staff and students to the Delaware First Festival on The Green.

Left to right, UD students Corey Perkins, Sheridan Wood, Lan Tomasi and Alaina Johnson joined Thursday's Delaware First Festival on The Green.

UD staff members Julie Donohue (overcoat) and Dana Martin put their photo on the mosaic wall at Thursday’s Delaware First Festival on The Green.

Dave Raymond (right) speaks with Jose-Luis Riera, interim vice president for student life, about the importance of philanthropy to students.

David Wilson (left), associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, talks about how gifts support the academic life of students.

Athletic Director Chrissi Rawak speaks about the true sense of community at UD and how philanthropy helps athletics.

Blue Hen Ambassador Abby Hidalgo talks about the effects of philanthropy on the student experience.

Students, faculty and staff had a chance to collect a knit hat to stay warm and promote the Delaware First fundraising campaign.

Delaware First Festival

Article by Development and Alumni Relations Staff Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson and Evan Krape November 09, 2017

UD fundraising campaign launches with fun and celebration on The Green

More than 2,500 University of Delaware students, faculty, staff and friends filled The Green on Thursday, Nov. 9, to kick off Delaware First: The Campaign for the University of Delaware, the largest fundraising and engagement campaign in the University’s history.

During an afternoon packed with festivities, attendees were treated to a sneak peek of the campaign, as well as cookies, hot chocolate, music by DJ Amaze, campaign-themed winter hats and tastes of a new UDairy-exclusive ice cream flavor, named Delaware First and specially developed to celebrate the campaign. A mosaic wall capped off the historic celebration, allowing guests to add their photo to complete a panoramic depiction of Memorial Hall.

Led by UD alumnus and original Phillie Phanatic, Dave Raymond, Health Sciences ’79, the festival featured a variety of speakers who inspired and challenged the crowd to think about how they could create opportunities for Blue Hens both on campus and beyond.

Delaware First Festival attendees had opportunities to taste a new UDairy-exclusive ice cream flavor, named Delaware First and specially developed to celebrate the fundraising campaign.

Thanking Blue Hens for their generosity and spirit, UD President Dennis Assanis and his wife, Eleni, called on the Delaware community to engage with the University and consider making a gift in support of Delaware First’s $750 million fundraising goal.

“Our moment is now,” Assanis said. “This is UD’s time to boldly imagine our future and work together to deliver on big, game-changing ideas. Through the Delaware First campaign, we will build on the amazing achievements of our great institution and reach new heights of excellence in teaching, research and service to our world.”

The Assanises were joined by other speakers, including Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Services Director Chrissi Rawak, Interim Vice President for Student Life José-Luis Riera, Associate Dean for the Social Sciences David Wilson and UD Student Alumni Ambassador (UDSAA) Abby Hidalgo.

“Philanthropic support has shaped student experiences, provided resources and created opportunities beyond what we ever could do alone as a University,” said Hidalgo, Arts and Sciences ’18, who currently serves as UDSAA vice president of philanthropy. “It’s important to note that we can all make a difference, as well as show our gratitude and grow our passions. Together, we will make the UD experience transformative for every Blue Hen.”

About Delaware First

Delaware First will strengthen the Blue Hen nation and raise funds to support student scholarships, endowed professorships, graduate fellowships, research, facilities and experiential learning opportunities across UD.

The campaign will also help establish several potential programs such as a graduate college, initiatives around innovation and entrepreneurship, partnerships through the Biden Institute and the construction of several new buildings around campus, including the biopharmaceutical building on STAR campus, as well as UD athletic facilities, among other strategic projects.

Watch this video on the Delaware First campaign to learn more. To stay updated on the campaign or learn how to get involved, visit www.udel.edu/delawarefirst.

For a photo gallery of the festival, click here. To watch the full video of the event, click here.

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