Hearts on Fire Day of Giving Exceeds Fundraising and Participation Goals, Again

For the fifth consecutive year the DeSales community rallied together to raise money for student financial aid during the annual Hearts on Fire Day of Giving. 

On Friday, May 5, more than 1,050 donors participated in the annual event. Every graduating class — from 1965 to 2023 — recorded a donation. To date, the University has raised more than $240,000. 

“Each year, Hearts on Fire Day of Giving is an awe-inspiring display of how committed our alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students are to our mission,” said Father James Greenfield, OSFS ’84, president of DeSales. “It’s incredible to see DSU’s supporters come together to directly impact the lives of our students through their generosity. I know I speak for our entire University community when I say a profound thank you to anyone who made a gift this year.”  

This year, the top designation was The DeSales Fund, which supports the University’s highest institutional priority of scholarships and financial aid for our students. In addition, thanks to the generosity from our friends and alumni, more than $70,000 was unlocked that were challenges for people to donate to the arts, academic divisions, veterans’ initiatives, and scholarships.

“We’re so blessed to see this kind of support for our University year after year, and this year more than ever before, our community showed up to celebrate what they love most about DeSales,” said Megan Diehl, director of advancement communications and donor relations. “We saw record numbers of alumni, especially young alumni, contributing to the areas they connect to the most.”

Alumni from all six academic divisions donated this year with the Division of Performing Arts receiving the highest rate of alumni participation. Participation from both alumni and employees increased this year, with full-time employees meeting the staff challenge and earning a day off on Monday, July 3.

The date was selected to mark both that this is the fifth annual Hearts on Fire Day of Giving, as well as the fifth year of Fr. Greenfield’s presidency.