BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – On April 20, more than 5 million people shared in the IU Day experience. The sixth annual IU Day – a 24-hour, binge-watching, social-sharing, IU-wearing celebration of all things Indiana University – featured a variety of events and celebrations, social media challenges, and a photo contest.
In addition to in-person festivities at all the IU campuses, IU spirit spanned the world. People celebrated in more than 100 countries, including Indonesia, Germany, and Kenya. With the support of the IU Alumni Association, forty alumni groups in the US and around the globe showed their support of IU with in-person or online experiences, engaging in social media activities, and hosting crowdfunding campaigns. The Malaysia chapter celebrated the day distributing 500 food boxes to orphans and students.
The event's official hashtag, #IUday, had over 10,000 total likes, hearts, and retweets earning more than $10,000 for student scholarships. People shared their favorite IU photo on Twitter or Instagram using #IUDay and earned $5,000 for their favorite IU causes.
The day also inspired more than 4,300 individual gifts and counting in support of Indiana University. Throughout IU Day, more than $20,000 in online challenges funds were unlocked. Also, funds raised supported 61 crowdfunding campaigns sustaining a wide array of projects, programs, and scholarships across various areas of study – including music, theater, research, youth programs, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
The impact of IU Day continues to grow each year, leaving a legacy on all nine Indiana University campuses. Thanks to the generosity of students, faculty, alumni, and friends for their continued support of IU.