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DURANGO— In two short weeks, Fort Lewis College will be celebrating its fifth annual #GivingTuesday, a 24-hour fundraising campaign that seeks to celebrate collective giving and impact, raising funds from 550 donors this year.

This year’s top priorities include the Sports Performance Center, the Nursing Collaborative, and General Student Scholarships, said Melissa Mount, vice president of Advancement at FLC and CEO of the FLC Foundation.

“We encourage our Skyhawk alums and friends to find a cause they feel strongly about and to get involved however they can,” Mount said. “If you’re not sure where to donate, consider our greatest needs funded through the President's Impact Fund or Unrestricted Funds, which give us the flexibility to meet the most pressing needs and most creative endeavors as they come to the forefront.”

The largest Giving Tuesday Challenge will unlock a $200,000 gift from an anonymous donor toward the Sports Performance Center if the Foundation secures 550 donors on Giving Tuesday.

• The Sports Performance Center will be a state-of-the-art facility providing innovative performance, rehabilitation, nutrition, and wellness programs. It will impact all of FLC’s 500+ student-athletes in one of FLC's 16 NCAA Division II teams and USA Cycling. SPC will create more student-centered pathways, alleviating capacity issues at the current Student Life Center and playing an essential role in recruiting and retaining high-caliber student-athletes. The project is scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 2024. “Our goal is to continue graduating champions in the classroom, competition, and community. It will be a true game-changer for every Skyhawk,” said Director of Athletics Travis Whipple.
   
• The Fort Lewis College/CU College of Nursing Collaborative is a national model for advancing nursing care centered on rural, preventative, community-based, and Indigenous health perspectives. The program is developing a Clinical Education Center by renovating Skyhawk Hall at FLC’s campus. The revamped facility space will include state-of-the-art simulation labs, debrief rooms, classrooms, a student lounge/study space, ambulatory care, and telemedicine, allowing hands-on application of clinical nursing skills.
   
• FLC's Foundation General Scholarships Fund feeds over 200 scholarships, providing opportunities for flexible scholarship needs to designate funds where they're needed most.

FLC donors and friends of the College can sign up to become Giving Tuesday Ambassadors and help spread the word about donation opportunities. Learn more at givingday.fortlewis.edu or email Katie Nester, Director of Outreach & Donor Engagement, at nester_k@fortlewis.edu. 

The national #GivingTuesday movement started in 2012 as a call for people to do good. FLC joined the campaign in 2019 and has consistently engaged several hundred donors and donations during the 24 hours since. Last year, the College raised $484,698 from 511 donors.

To donate, visit the Skyhawk Giving Tuesday website at https://givingday.fortlewis.edu.