University News

WIU Launches “Pick the Pair” Campaign Ahead of The Western Challenge Giving Day

February 2, 2026

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MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University is launching Pick the Pair, a new donor engagement campaign designed to build excitement and community participation leading into The Western Challenge Day of Giving on Friday, April 24.

The interactive campaign invites donors and supporters to vote for their favorite WIU sock designs by making gifts of $5 or more. Each contribution serves as a vote in a bracket-style competition featuring eight original sock designs. Designs advance based on total dollars raised, with the final winning design announced in March.

"Every vote supports the WIU Founders Scholarship, providing critical support to students with financial need who are just one to three semesters from graduation, helping them finish strong and earn their degree," WIU Director of Annual Giving, Tim Hallinan said.

The winning sock design will become the official Giving Day sock and will be distributed to donors who contribute $75 or more during The Western Challenge Day of Giving on April 24. Funds raised through the campaign will support a designated area of impact at WIU.

Pick the Pair is designed to make participation in giving fun, accessible and meaningful while allowing donors to play an active role in shaping one of the Western Challenge's most popular traditions.

Campaign Timeline
Round 1: February 1–14


Round 2: February 15–28


Final Round: March 1–14


Winning design announced: March


Participants in Pick the Pair will also be invited to continue their impact on April 24 during The Western Challenge Day of Giving, when donors who give $75 or more will receive the winning sock design.

For more information, visit bit.ly/3MfuOxR.

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