The power of giving back

University of South Carolina alumni, students and supporters united to make a difference during Give 4 Garnet for 1 day, 8 hours and 01 minute. Thanks to the generosity of the USC community, Give 4 Garnet reports a preliminary total of nearly $1.5 million and counting raised from 7,942 donors, showcasing the collective power of giving back.   

Gifts were amplified thanks to contest prizes and matching gifts totaling $400,000. Contest winners and the amounts they won include:  

🔎 Student Scavenger Hunt:  
Tie for 1st place: $2,500 each - Allison Luks (The Rowing Club) and Diego Vazquez (Autism and Neurodevelopment Center)
3rd place: $1,000 – Jacob Smith (Gamecock Wrestling Club) 

🐶 Carolina’s Cutest
Congratulations to Lyndsey Herring for winning Carolina’s Cutest with a picture of Indy. $1,000 was donated to the HRSM Retailing Department Fund.

📍 11,417 Miles 
That’s how far away Christine Dixon was, donating to Give 4 Garnet from Walpole, Australia, and winning $1,000 for the Carolina Cares Fund. 

🔢 2-4-6 Donors
Thank you to Give 4 Garnet's 2,000th, 4,000th and 6,000th donor. Each had an additional $1,000 donated to to area of their choice. 
2,000 - Kristee Marconi (Student Success Center Fund) 
4,000 - Jaron Parker (Carolina Fund:  Business) 
6,000 - Chelse Lawson (Choirs of Carolina Fund) 

1️⃣ Kelly Saunders was not only a first-time donor to USC, but she was also the winner of the First Time Donor Challenge. She was able to designate $500 in bonus funds to the HRSM Innovation Fund.  

🥇 Beat Your Best Leaderboard:
The units with the largest percentage increase of donors over last year
1st place: $3,000 - Anne Frank Center 
2nd place: $2,000 - School of Medicine Greenville 
3rd place: $1,000 - McNair Center for Aerospace Research

👑 Most Donors Winners:
1st place: $3,000 - Student Affairs & Academic Support 
2nd place: $2,000 - Darla Moore School of Business 
3rd place: $1,000 - Palmetto College

💰 Highest Amount Raised:
1st place: $3,000 - Darla Moore School of Business 
2nd place: $2,000 - College of Arts and Sciences 
3rd place: $1,000 - Palmetto College

⏰ Power Hour Winners: $1,000 
Most Donors 7-11 a.m. — Student Affairs and Academic Support 
Most Employee Donors 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Darla Moore School of Business 
Most Donors 1-3 p.m. — Student Affairs and Academic Support  
Most Donors 3-5 p.m. — Student Affairs and Academic Support 
Most Student Donors 7-9 p.m. — Student Affairs and Academic Support 
Most Donors 8-10 a.m. —  Student Affairs and Academic Support 
Most Employee Donors 10 a.m. - noon — College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management 
Most Donors Noon - 2 p.m. — Darla Moore School of Business 

🐔 Employee Donor Winners 
Employee Most Early Bird Donors: $5,000 - Palmetto College 
Most Employee Donors | Day 1: $5,000 - Darla Moore School of Business
Most Employee Donors | Day 2: $5,000 - College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management 
1,000th Employee Donor: $1,000.00 - Christina Xan (Koger Center Presents Events) 
1,500th Employee Donor: $1,000.00 - Zhenmeng Peng (Chemical Engineering Department Fund) 

Although Give 4 Garnet 2025 is in the books, the impact lives on. It's never too late to join the cause and support USC's on-campus initiatives. Keep the spirit of giving alive all year round at USC's giving website.