Giving Tuesday Now: Thank You for Supporting AUA Students
2 min readWhen the COVID-19 pandemic reached Armenia, we were caught by surprise and faced a lot of uncertainty. While we continue to tackle the challenges imposed by the pandemic, our support of one another has grown to new levels. Trying times have a way of bringing out the power of community.
Since its inception, many of the results achieved by the American University of Armenia (AUA) have been made possible by its community of steadfast supporters. AUA’s donors have realized students’ dreams by committing to subsidize 60% of tuition fees and making our need-blind admission policy possible to a large extent. This has allowed the University to give Armenia’s deserving students access to a world-class higher education, regardless of their financial circumstances. Currently, 45% of AUA students receive some form of financial assistance. When the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold, many students found themselves in more difficult situations and were no longer able to afford their financial responsibilities even with existing financial aid. But, regardless, it is more important than ever for AUA to continue to provide our students with a high-quality online education throughout these difficult times.
May 5, 2020, was declared as Giving Tuesday Now, advocating giving and unity especially in response to the effects of COVID-19. This was a call for a collective effort to mitigate the negative consequences caused by the crisis and to alleviate the financial burden of those affected. This year, AUA joined the global Giving Tuesday Now initiative by launching the “Support Our Students at the Time of Crisis” campaign, aiming to raise $25,000 to secure tuition fund assistance for those students who were in adverse financial situations caused by the pandemic. The campaign received donations from an unprecedented number of over 200 donors worldwide, including Armenia. Donations far surpassed the goal with the campaign successfully raising a total of $35,712. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of AUA around the world responded to the AUA appeal by making their contributions toward the goal. Every single donation has made a difference, regardless of the amount.
AUA and all our students extend a heartfelt thank you to all our donors for their steadfast support of this particular campaign, as well as others throughout the years. Their generosity has made a direct impact on the education of Armenia’s bright students, enabling AUA to continue forward, unwavering. This campaign has been a testament to the power of community, as well as the power of acts of kindness, and the power of extending a helping hand to make a palpable impact.
In gratitude to all those who have come forth to help others in need and the millions of health care workers who are fighting COVID-19 to save lives, AUA dedicates the efforts of this campaign to the life and legacy of Dr. Lorna Breen whose strength epitomized human compassion and commitment to save others.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values. For more information about AUA and its donor opportunities, please visit philanthropy.aua.am.