Donor Support Propels Wilson College to Success on NC State’s 2022 Day of Giving

On March 23, Logan Adkins, a sophomore studying fashion and textile management, made her first gift during NC State’s annual Day of Giving.

When asked which area she’d like to support, Adkins made her selection without hesitation: the Wilson College of Textiles.

“As a scholarship recipient myself, I’ve benefited immensely from donor support,” Adkins says. “I wanted to pay it forward to the college that has given me so much.”

Members of the Wilson College of Textiles community joined Adkins in rallying together to raise more than $1 million for students, staff, faculty and innovation in research and education on Day of Giving — for the third year in a row. The university’s 24-hour fundraiser provides an opportunity for the Wolfpack to jointly help NC State achieve more through generous giving.

This year, the Wilson College’s primary focus on Day of Giving was student funding and the life-changing effect that scholarships have on the next generation of textile leaders. In turn, the Wilson College of Textiles raised $1,194,161.98 from 612 gifts — with more than $1 million of that total amount going to support 15 college-wide scholarship funds. 

“Wilson College’s Day of Giving donors answered the call for support by investing in our students as they shape the future of the textile industry,” says David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles. “Because of you, we will be able to provide even more impactful and meaningful experiences to our current and future students and enable them to become extraordinary think and do leaders.”

Gifts made on March 23 will empower the North Carolina Textile Foundation (NCTF), which is the college’s philanthropic arm, to continue awarding critical scholarships, investing in innovative research and forging collaborative partnerships with textile leaders and local entrepreneurs.

“The collective effort from our alumni, students, staff, faculty, industry partners and friends inspires our foundation’s mission to advance the college through engagement, partnership and philanthropy,” says Michard Ward, who serves as executive director of the NCTF. “We are truly grateful for the dedication and support that was shown this year on Day of Giving.”

Wilson College of Textiles Day of Giving Highlights

• The college saw a 15% increase in the number of gifts from the 2021 Day of Giving.
• Seven new Wilson College of Textiles scholarship funds were created this year on Day of Giving, including a $500,000 Centennial Scholarship Endowment funded by an anonymous donor.
• More than $70,000 was raised to support the college’s two departmental funds: the Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS) Enhancement Fund and the Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management (TATM) Enhancement Fund. These enhancement funds allow department heads to support innovative teaching, recruit talented new faculty and provide program support.
• Nearly $30,000 was raised for the Dean’s Textiles Innovation Fund, which provides immediate financial assistance to areas in the college with the most critical need.
• Over $2,000 went to the Textiles Diversity and Inclusion Fund, which supports inclusive programs, such as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mini Grant program, and culture-building events, like the upcoming Unraveling the Truth: Celebrating Indigenous Attire panel discussion on April 12.
• The Wilson College of Textiles tied with the College of Engineering for first place in the 7 a.m. Most Gifts Challenge and won a Mad Libs social media challenge, which each earned the college an additional $1,000 for the Dean’s Textiles Innovation Fund.

Thanks to the commitment of generous supporters on NC State’s 2022 Day of Giving, the Wilson College of Textiles can continue to unlock exceptional opportunities for textiles students — today, tomorrow and beyond.

Giving back doesn’t have to end on Day of Giving. If you would like to lend your support to the Wilson College of Textiles by making a donation, you can learn more here.