Poly Gives: Making an Impact Through Matching Gifts
Poly Gives is a three-day giving campaign taking place this year from April 11-13 that builds on the excitement of Open House/Poly Royal Weekend, when our amazing alumni, parents and friends give back to the Cal Poly they love. This year's Poly Gives will feature matching gifts in every college and 17 different crowdfund campaigns, representing a variety of different types of student projects and activities. Crowdfunding allows donors another opportunity to make an impact and gives students a platform to raise funds and to promote philanthropy on campus. In the section below, meet the amazing alumni donors who are choosing to double their impact through matching gifts this Poly Gives. Working together, we can make a lasting impact on Cal Poly. For more information, visit polygives.calpoly.edu and crowdfund.calpoly.edu.
Bailey College of Science and Mathematics
Undergraduate Research Fund: $5,000
An anonymous supporter has pledged a total of $25,000 to the Bailey College Undergraduate Research Fund. They are challenging others to match their first contribution of $5,000, directly impacting undergraduate research opportunities for students in the college.
More than 1,200 undergraduate students engage in faculty-mentored research annually in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, where students learn and work side-by-side with professors in their research labs. This includes hands-on faculty and student research projects, travel to conferences to present their work, necessary equipment, and scholarly publication. Together, we can foster Learn by Doing through innovation, learning, and discovery. Learn more about the Undergraduate Research Fund and help the college meet the $5,000 match at the link!
Make a Gift to the Undergraduate Research Fund
College of agriculture, food and environmental sciences
Earn by Doing Internship Program
This Poly Gives, an anonymous parent has generously agreed to match gifts to the Earn by Doing Internship Program in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences up to a total of $10,000.
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) Earn by Doing Internship Program is an opportunity for students to gain paid work experience at one or more of the college’s on-campus food and agricultural production units or departments. The program allows students to work part-time, up to 20 hours per week, gaining technical skills in positions directly related to their chosen careers.
During a typical school year, more than 400 students participate in the program. Earn by Doing opportunities allow students to finance their education while gaining hands-on, industry-specific experience that helps them be ready to make an immediate impact in their careers following graduation.
Help the college meet the $10,000 match by making a gift to Earn by Doing at the link!
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Interdisciplinary Studios and Labs & Student Support Fund: $25,000
Alumnus Scott Gaudineer (Architecture, '79) is matching gifts to support interdepartmental collaboration, innovation, and Learn by Doing in the CAED up to $25,000!
Gaudineer credits Cal Poly for an amazing education. “This is just my way of giving back to a college and a university that gave me a path forward and has allowed me to be very successful in my professional career,” he said.
He's also ready for some competition and wants to help the College of Architecture and Environmental Design make a big splash.
“Last year, a good friend of mine and classmate, Wally Gordon, offered up a $25,000 challenge,” Gaudineer said. “Well, I then proceeded to send out emails to our fellow classmates to empty Wally's pockets, and we were able to raise a matching $25,000 in about three and a half hours. We almost beat the College of Engineering. So, I'm the designated wallet to be picked this time and I hope they pick me clean.”
Read more about Gaudineer and help the college meet his match of $25,000 at the link!
Make a Gift to the Interdisciplinary Studios and Labs & Student Support Fund
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department of Architecture: Gilmore Challenge
Alum Dave Gilmore (Architecture, ‘76) is generously contributing a matching gift to the Architecture Department, up to $20,000! This department is a place where he learned, grew as a person and came to feel at home.
“College was some of the best years of my life,” he said, “but it was still a struggle being a student with no money and trying to find my way through. This is about giving back to people like me who started at Cal Poly and maybe didn’t know their way. I want to help take away some of the resistance to things that they can't afford.”
He hopes his gift will inspire other alumni, especially those reaching success in their mid-careers, to step up and get more involved with their alma mater.
Read more about Gilmore and help the college meet his match of $20,000 at the link!
Make a Gift in Support of the Gilmore Challenge
college of engineering
Dathe Family Student Project Center
This Poly Gives, Bob & Carlotta Dathe will match gifts up to $35,000 for those who support the Dathe Family Student Project Center!
The Dathe Family Student Project Center, named in honor of Bob and Carlotta Dathe, features a custom-designed shade sail spanning a paved area for team-based activities. Shipping containers will be repurposed into clubhouses serving dual purposes: encouraging collaboration and offering storage solutions.
“I’m thrilled to see how this center will directly benefit numerous students and clubs,” said Bob. “It’s a logical fit for clubs and ongoing projects, and I’m excited to witness its impact.”
Read more about the Dathe Family Student Project Center and help the college meet their match of $35,000 at the link!
Make a Gift to the Dathe Family Student Project Center
college of liberal arts
Dean's Advisory Council Matching Gift
The alumni members of the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC) are celebrating Poly Gives in a big way this year, pooling their resources to contribute a total of $15,000 in matching gift funds for the college.
“It seems daunting sometimes to do something impactful individually, but collectively, it’s such an honor to be able to pull resources together and make a difference,” said Sarah Khan (English, ’98).
The ten members of the DAC are funding a $10,000 dollar for dollar match to the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Excellence Fund and $5,000 in prize money for the “Dean’s Challenge,” rewarding the department with the highest number of individual donors, no matter the amount.
Read more about the Dean's Advisory Council's matching gift and help the college meet their match of $15,000 at the link!
Make a Gift to the College of Liberal Arts
Orfalea College of Business
Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic: Steve McCann
Alumnus Steve McCann (Business Administration, '96) has pledged a $5,000 matching gift to the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic for Poly Gives!
“I chose to support the LITC as it provides students a unique Learn by Doing opportunity,” McCann explained. “Students apply their technical experience and interpersonal skills to make a direct impact on individuals in the community – individuals who often have nowhere else to turn for assistance.”
The Cal Poly LITC began operating in 2010 and is located on campus in the Orfalea College of Business. Under the guidance and supervision of faculty, students in the LITC program represent low-income clients involved in tax controversies before the IRS and the U.S. Tax Court.
By making this generous gift, McCann hopes to bring awareness to this amazing program, in which students can practice Learn by Doing while giving back to the local community.
Read more about McCann and help the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic meet his match of $5,000 at the link!
Make a Gift to the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
Orfalea College of Business
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Richard Boberg
After a career working in Silicon Valley at tech startups, Rich Boberg (Electronic Engineering, ‘70) is eager to support the next generation of Mustangs who are coming up with big ideas. That’s why for this year’s Poly Gives, he’s offered to match gifts to the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, dollar-for-dollar up to $18,000.
“I love giving to the CIE because I can see the results and be directly involved with the students,” he said. “It’s not just giving money. There is an opportunity to see real impact when the students create products, services, and businesses.”
The CIE helps students and community members acquire the tools, develop the skills and cultivate the mindset of an entrepreneur so that they can create economic and social value throughout the world. Since its inception, the CIE has expanded its programming on and off campus and has raised over $250 million in capital, helped launch over 120 companies, created over 1000 jobs, and offered 26 entrepreneur courses.
Read more about Boberg and help the CIE meet his match of $18,000 at the link!
Make a Gift to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship