Record-Breaking Raise Your Pick Giving Day Raises More Than $390K
Miners across the globe contribute more than 2,500 gifts
EL PASO, Texas (April 24, 2025) – The University of Texas at El Paso’s third annual Raise Your Pick UTEP Giving Day was record-breaking, raising over $390,000 through more than 2,500 individual gifts from alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the University.
The previous campaign record was $342,000 in 2023.
“Thank you to El Paso and the Miner community for raising your picks and supporting our students and the work we do here,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson.
Funds raised will support over 50 areas of need, including the UTEP Career Closet, which empowers students with professional attire for interviews and networking; the UTEP Food Pantry; the student emergency fund, which supports Miners facing unexpected financial challenges; academic programs; Miner athletics; and student scholarships.
“All of us in the Miner Nation are so thankful for the tremendous support," said Gary Edens, Ed.D., acting vice president for institutional advancement. "Every donation helps to change the lives of our students as they work to earn their degrees and achieve their academic and professional goals.”
To inspire participation and increase impact, matches and giving challenges were contributed by several individual donors as well as community and corporate partners, including premium challenge sponsors Raiz Federal Credit Union, the El Paso Chihuahuas Foundation and Marathon Petroleum Corporation.
The fundraiser, along with a companion block party in UTEP’s Centennial Plaza, took place April 22-23.
The Block Party included opportunities for students, faculty, staff and alumni to learn more about the impact of donations. Stations included activities such as philanthropy quizzes, writing thank you notes to donors and competing in the cash tornado to catch ‘Miner Bucks’ and win additional funding for UTEP programs.
Those who missed the chance to donate during Raise Your Pick Giving Day but would still like to support UTEP can click here to give now.
Raise Your Pick UTEP Giving Day was organized by the Division of Institutional Advancement.
About The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.
Last Updated on April 24, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published April 24, 2025
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
