The mission of the campaign “Pulling Together for Greatness” encouraged students to donate money towards various scholarships designed to financially help other students on campus.
The Pulling Together for Greatness promotion ran from Sept. 5 to Sept. 16, giving away items such as T-shirts, bags, Frisbees and more, according to their staff. In total $760 was raised by students and matched with president Tanners donation totaled $882 according to Rebecca Millard, an Annual Giving Coordinator. The campaign, which runs year-round, announced the student association bringing in the most donations would receive a pizza party.
Junyoung Son, a senior from Honolulu studying accounting and one of the assistants of LDS Philanthropies, said staff members were seen donating as well. “Just like we live in Hawaii, we share everything. I think that is the spirit we aim for and encourage,” said Son.
Megan Welton, the campus liaison for LDS Philanthropies, said 100 percent of the donations go straight to the students, with no overhead fees.
Welton said one of the points the campaign stresses is the “habit of giving starts now.” Welton said she remembered Sister Tanner talking about her mother who said, “No matter what you have, you can always give something of yourself.”
Son said, “It really reminds me how blessed I am …being able to see others give and how much they give. It blows my mind and kind of humbles me a little bit more.” Son said donating is just like tithing. “It’s pretty easy just to give a dollar…that dollar will go a long way.”
Son also wants students to know donating “humbles you and also helps you have a bigger heart for everything.”
Cheng-shun Mao, a senior from Taiwan studying hospitality and tourism management, and assistant for the LDS Philanthropies, said he felt the spirit when he donated because it went to students who need the funding. “It’s not about the amount,” it’s about doing something good said Mao.
Mao said he feels [donating] is what Heavenly Father desires of his children, even if students feel their donations are small. “It’s all about attitude, not about money.”
Welton also stated she feels there is something special about BYU-Hawaii and how everyone pulls together. The campaign’s name, “Pulling Together,” was inspired by the Hukilau where everyone works together to gather fish to feed the village, according to Welton.
Dahvian Taufagu, a freshman from Western Samoa studying biochemistry, said, “Donate for those in need… I am sure there are many students that could benefit from donations from other students.”
Taufagu said he thought “it should be done more often and spread out more because a lot of students can benefit from it.”
Welton concluded, “I would encourage all of us students, administration, and staff to consider what we can give and then to give it, because every little bit really does help …and the outcome is that we all end up blessing one another.”
The organization has been spreading out the word through phone calls and e-mails, and will continue their fundraising throughout the coming months.
Writer: Stephanie Soto