Before the chants of Orange and Blue resonate inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this Homecoming weekend, the University of Florida is asking the Gator Nation to show its spirit through generosity.
The university is calling on students and alumni to donate to the UF Foundation's Get Up and Give campaign.
In its second year, the campaign encourages students and alumni to take pride in giving back to their alma mater. The goal: one donor per minute for the next 36 hours.
"Everyone realizes how important it is for people to understand that at the end of the day, tuition and the money we get from the state doesn't cover the costs to keep UF up and running," Associate Director of Special Campaigns Kenny Brighton said.
Get up and Give will reach out to alumni via telephone, email and social media to let donors know that they can easily see the impact of their giving. Brighton said they can select a specific UF fund, scholarship or department as their beneficiary.
"These people are giving an amount of money that's significant to them, whatever it may be, and they deserve to direct where that money goes and put it toward something that they feel passionate about," he said.
Donations will be collected at Emerson Alumni Hall from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 p.m. Friday, across from Library West on University Avenue during the Homecoming parade and online.
George Pappas edited this story online.