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"Alexa, make a gift to the Western Challenge"
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Amazon "Alexa" Gets in on the Western Challenge

April 22, 2019

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MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's Western Challenge, which is held every April 24 in conjunction with the annual Purple & Gold Day, is going high tech this year with the help of Amazon's "Alexa."

While donors have the opportunity to choose exactly where their gift goes during the 24-hour online giving campaign, individuals who wish to give to Western's unrestricted account - the Fund for a Greater Western - just need to let "Alexa" do the work by simply stating, "Alexa, make a gift to the Western Challenge" to their Alexa-enabled device.

Director of Annual Giving Tim Hallinan '95, who coordinates the Western Challenge, came up with the idea to get "Alexa" in on this year's challenge as a way to make giving to the University even easier.

"Unrestricted gifts are important as they give the University the flexibility to respond to our ever-changing needs," Hallinan said. "When making an unrestricted gift through Amazon's 'Alexa,' the gift is processed with Amazon Pay using the information already stored in the donor's Amazon account. Donors will receive a confirmation email of their gift as well as a receipt from the WIU Foundation."

Individuals who wish to make an unrestricted gift can go through "Alexa," or keep it "old school" by visiting the Challenge website or mailing donations to the WIU Foundation (303 Sherman Hall, 1 University Circle, Macomb IL 61455-1390).

Donors also have the opportunity to impact specific scholarship funds, departments, athletics programs, campus improvements and other areas at either the Macomb or Quad Cities campus with a directed gift by visiting the Western Challenge website.

According to Hallinan, during this year's Western Challenge, more than $65,000 in matching and challenge dollars have been pledged by a group of alumni, which means a gift may be doubled, or in some cases tripled. Last year's Western Challenge raised $153,679, which set a record for individual giving to the University within a 24-hour period.

"When you make a gift during the Western Challenge, you're joining Leathernecks from across the country and around the world in supporting what you love about Western. When we combine our support and maximize our impact, it can make a world of difference," Hallinan said.

For updates and participation, follow the Western Challenge on Facebook.

And don't forget to join your fellow Leathernecks for Purple & Gold Day April 24. From 7:30-9 a.m. April 24, WIU alumni are invited to attend a continental breakfast at the Alumni House, which is also part of a Macomb Chamber of Commerce Before Hours celebration with WIU. From 5-7 p.m. April 24, alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends are invited to attend the Macomb Purple & Gold Day at the Sports Corner in downtown Macomb, while Moline-area alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends are invited to attend the Quad Cities Purple & Gold Day at The Barrel House in Moline.

The tradition of celebrating Purple & Gold Day at Western began April 24, 2000, with the close of the University's 100-year celebration. The date in 2000 marked the 100-year anniversary of the day in 1899 when the Illinois Legislature approved the creation of what would become WIU.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing