ATHENS, Ohio — Today is the day the entire Ohio University community comes together to support all that OU has been and is by giving to the funds that matter most to individual donors.

Every contribution, big or small, helps ensure that OHIO’s next era is the best one yet.

Ohio University’s sixth Giving Day kicked off at midnight Wednesday, April 2, inviting alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends to celebrate OHIO’s legacy and future by investing in the Bobcats.

This year, OU’s Eastern campus in Belmont County is focusing on five key funds that directly impact its students and campus community:

∫ Ohio University Eastern General Scholarship Endowment — This fund provides scholarship assistance to students of the Eastern Campus while also providing the donor with a 50% match from The Ohio University Foundation. This scholarship is available to qualifying students of financial need.

∫ The Ohio University Eastern Dean’s Circle Fund — This discretionary fund enables the dean to support beneficial initiatives that are not covered in the present budget. Often these are related to starting new support systems for students, enriching present educational opportunities for students and the community, and/or coordinating community partnership enterprises.

∫ The McTeague Experiential Learning Award For Ohio Eastern — This account will provide support for students and/or faculty finalists chosen for experiential learning opportunities at OHIO Eastern, including, but not limited to, study away/abroad, internships, research, academic/leadership conferences, service trips, museum/historic site trips and fees, and/or volunteer opportunities. Funds may also provide for registration fees, airfare, hotel accommodation, food, and other travel-related incidental expenses.

∫ Congressman Charlie Wilson Leadership Program — Established in 2021, this account provides general programming for leadership programming at Ohio University Eastern. The goal of this programming is to serve students by providing role models for students or programming which will help them develop skills to become leaders in the Community.

∫ The Patrick Wesley Murphy Memorial Scholarship — Established in memory of Patrick Wesley Murphy, who died at age 2 in 2017, this scholarship supports social work students at Ohio University Eastern. Created by his grandparents, Cindy and Dean Emeritus Richard W. Greenlee, a social work professor, this scholarship honors Patrick’s spirit by helping future social workers achieve their degrees and make a lasting impact. Contributions are welcomed to expand its reach and support more students.

The Greenlees offer a match, up to $2,500, to any gifts made to this scholarship on Giving Day.

To donate to any of these funds, visit giving.ohio.edu/ohio-giving-day-2025.