UA Announces Inaugural Bama Blitz Online Fundraising Event

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama will host the inaugural Bama Blitz, an inspiring online fundraising event for alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends to come together and support UA.

Beginning at noon April 11 and ending at 8:31 p.m. April 12, Bama Blitz will celebrate UA’s founding year, 1831, with one day, eight hours and 31 minutes of giving.

Using the power of social media and crowdfunding, donors can give back and pay forward in support of their favorite cause, college or program.

Anyone who wishes to help increase the impact of Bama Blitz is encouraged to sign up to be an ambassador by visiting bamablitz.ua.edu prior to April 11. Ambassadors will have access to the Bama Blitz Toolkit, which they can use to engage in social media to share in the excitement of the fundraising event using #BamaBlitz.

“We hope everyone who loves this University will take part in this exciting fundraising event to support all areas of campus,” said Allison Leitner, executive director of fundraising initiatives. “It doesn’t matter how much you give – it just matters that you give. There are so many ways to support UA, and it all adds up to make a difference.”

Managed by the Office of Annual Giving, Bama Blitz will build support for a series of unique and impactful passion projects that might otherwise go without funding. Some of the projects include:

Alabama Rocket Engineering Systems, or ARES, Initiative, a student-led program in the College of Engineering with the long-term goal of taking UA to the forefront of collegiate rocketry by putting a university CubeSat into low earth orbit via a university launch vehicle. ARES hopes to raise money to fund travel and testing for Project LunarWorks and Project Altair, two student-led initiatives.

Engage Tuscaloosa, an Honors College program that allows students to work in local schools and serve as valuable mentors for the students of Tuscaloosa.

Beyond Bama: Alternative Breaks, a project within the Division of Student Life that allows students to travel to communities in the country and the world and engage in service and experimental learning during University holiday breaks. These short-term service trips provide an all-inclusive experience for students while providing a learning experience on issues such as literacy, poverty, culture, hunger, homelessness and the environment.

Culverhouse Students Destination Education, which will help develop business leaders by offsetting high costs associated with experiential learning trips, conferences and interviews.

“The opportunities at UA are endless, and this event allows us to highlight current priorities,” said Mary Lawhorn, UA’s director of annual giving. “We are thrilled to introduce these passion projects to our community to help support their financial needs. The impact a large amount of small donations can make can be life-changing, and we invite our UA family to celebrate with us.”

Gifts can be made on the bamablitz.ua.edu beginning at noon April 11. The website will also provide updates about fundraising totals for each passion project as well as the total amount of money raised for the University.