For the City Times
STEVENS POINT – As part of #GivingTuesday on Nov. 30, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s UWSP Foundation raised more in one day than on the last five Giving Tuesdays combined.

A total of 175 donors gave more than $35,000 to support student success through scholarships, specific programs or general funds. Gifts ranged from $5 to $10,000.

The campaign offered each donor a symbolic adoption of one of the 286,000 tiles that make up the mural on the Trainer Natural Resources building, facing the Specht Memorial Forum/Sundial. The mural was created by Art Professor Richard C. Schneider, who used computer technology to place 30 different tile designs across the wall to depict symbols of Wisconsin and the university.

Frank and Kathleen Haeni, 1970 alumni from Crivitz, made the largest donation of $10,000 and earned the red vest tile symbolizing Lee Sherman Dreyfus. The former UW-Stevens Point chancellor and Wisconsin governor wore a red vest that became iconic.

“We enjoyed participating in this year’s Giving Tuesday,” said Frank Haeni. “UWSP has done so much for us in the past. We view our giving as a way of paying that forward to the next generation of Pointers and to show our appreciation for the impact the university has made in our lives.”

The Haenis have a long history of giving to UW-Stevens Point, funding numerous scholarships and research projects through the College of Natural Resources and College of Letters and Science. Earlier this month, their contributions were honored with the naming of the Frank R. and Kathleen Y. Haeni Lecture Hall in the Chemistry Biology Building.

The second highest donation of $5,000 was given by Dennis and Sharon Peterson, who earned the Quaker hat tile. It symbolizes Chancellor Phillip Marshall, who led the university when the mural was completed in 1982.

All donors will be emailed an adoption certificate of their randomly chosen mural tile design.

The UW-Stevens Point Advancement team wanted to celebrate #GivingTuesday in a new, fun way, said Nicole Weir, annual giving manager.

“We know that our Pointer family loves the mural,” she said. “We wanted to celebrate our donors. What better way to do that than to let them adopt a tile?”

Donors took to social media to share why the mural means so much to them and why it inspired them to make a gift.

“Since the mural was born (completed and installed) the same year I started by college life, I figure it is only right to go forward with this adoption,” said Katy Walters.

“What a fun and perfect fundraiser. The mural is so near and dear to every alumni heart,” said Jen Sullivan.

To make a gift to the UWSP Foundation, go to https://give.uwsp.edu.