Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 27. That’s the date of this year’s Canisius High School Day of Giving, and Michael Madden ’67 has stepped up with a matching gift challenge. He will match, dollar-for-dollar, all gifts made that day up to a total of $100,000! So, taking part in Canisius’ Day of Giving will be a great way to increase the impact of your gift. It is fitting that this year’s Day of Giving theme is “Rise to the Challenge.” 

Canisius’ Day of Giving has grown into a global, annual event bringing the Canisius community together for 24 hours in support of the high school, its students and the power of a Canisius education. Throughout the day, members of our community are encouraged to make a gift of any size to the school.

Day of Giving also helps ignite increased excitement and a sense of pride and competition among alumni. I think Crusaders always like a little healthy competition! 

Last year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic the funds raised from our Day of Giving were used for an emergency response fund. This fund helped to support an increased number of financially vulnerable students and offset other unexpected immediate expenses incurred by Canisius’ response to the spread of COVID-19.

The 2020 event raised more than $111,000 dollars from 370 donors. This was the largest amount raised for our Day of Giving since the event’s inception four years ago. At a time of national and global crisis, Crusaders around the world came together to help ensure that the high school’s enduring mission continues, and to help fortify Canisius’s efforts to support vulnerable students. 

As we saw with last year’s remarkable results, when challenges arise, Crusaders rise to meet them. We hope you will “Rise to the Challenge” this year and take advantage of the matching funds that Mr. Madden has so generously offered.

All gifts made on May 27, 2021 will continue to allow Canisius to be prepared for whatever the future has in store, and to ensure no student has to worry about financial hardships preventing him from obtaining a Canisius education.

By participating in our Day of Giving alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and friends of the high school support Canisius’ work in educating the next generation of leaders. The success of our Day of Giving wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our entire Canisius community, especially our alumni who lead the way by building on and amplifying the generosity of fellow Crusaders. 

We are looking forward to another record-breaking Day of Giving on Thursday May 27! Thank you to our entire Canisius community for your support and dedication to our mission.

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday May 27, Canisius High School Day of Giving, “Rise to the Challenge” 

Go Crusaders!

Ken Liszewski '10 is the director of annual giving at Canisius. He can be reached at liszewski@canisiushigh.org.