Giving Tuesday has become a well-recognized follow to the themed shopping days just after Thanksgiving each year, and this year it falls on Tuesday, Nov. 30.
UNMC encourages those who wish to support the university to consider making a gift to the UNMC Student Scholarship Fund or to the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s Adaptive Toys and Maker Day campaign.
The gift of a first-rate medical education
A gift to the UNMC Student Scholarship Fund provides needed financial aid while recognizing students’ academic excellence and financial need. While other scholarships are available, the UNMC Student Scholarship Fund is the only one that receives broad support from the UNMC community to impact the lives of students. These critical scholarships are awarded by the UNMC Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Give to the UNMC Student Scholarship Fund.
College of Nursing Kearney Division student Corri Slagle is an example of a student who realizes what her UNMC education and training really means – for her and others.
"Nurses were the ones with boots on the ground as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world with fear," Slagle said. "Nurses were the ones holding patients’ hands as they were alone in the fight of their life, and nurses in all capacities stepped up and adapted how we took care of individual patients to keep everyone safe. Seeing the impact of nursing this year has inspired me as I work toward earning my BSN."
The gift of adaptive toys
Many off-the-shelf toys are not easy for children with diverse abilities to use, and specialized therapy toys are highly expensive. The UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) is leading a campaign this Giving Tuesday to secure funds so it can adapt 50 toys for use by its patients during therapy. It also will host a maker day to help families adapt their own toys for use at home.
Give to the Adaptive Toys and MMI Maker Day campaign.
"Research shows that learning through play is a critical part of a child’s development," MMI Occupational Therapist Monica Pleiss said. "Play is the job of children, and it is through play that children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development can flourish."
MMI Speech-Language Pathologist Korey Stading said, "With therapists’ expertise and access to the latest technology in the MMI MakerSpace, rehabilitation engineers, speech therapists and occupational therapists will be able to create inexpensive, safe and adaptive toys that will open the door for children with diverse abilities to experience the joy of play."
Thanks for considering a contribution to support UNMC on this Giving Tuesday. Other giving options are at nufoundation.org/unmc.