Raise Some L shatters 2019 record, generating a sevenfold increase in 2020

The year 2020 may be one of the worst years on record for a variety of reasons, right?

As former UofL head football coach, now ESPN College GameDay host Lee Corso says, “Not so fast, my friend.”

Raise Some L supporters made 2020 an absolutely great year for the university’s annual day of giving, increasing donations sevenfold from 2019 to 2020.

Held over 1,798 minutes (in honor of UofL’s founding year) Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, Raise Some L 2020 blew away last year’s total with $6.5 million in gifts and pledges from donors in 40 states across the county. In 2019, the total raised was a little in excess of $926,000.

Donors to Raise Some L chose where their gifts could be designated across the campus in academics, research, community engagement and clinical care.

“I want to say a big thank you … to all of you who supported Raise Some L, our annual day of giving. You came together as one Cardinal community to give back to those areas that you are most passionate about,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “You have demonstrated to the world that we stand united together in our mission.”

Bendapudi’s video message thanking donors is available for sharing here.

Competitions among groups helped keep the giving spirit alive throughout the event. Winners in each category were as follows:

Leaderboard Challenge

The Leaderboard Challenge Awards go to groups raising the most donations overall. These five winners will receive additional funding to their areas thanks to an anonymous donor:

1. RaiseRed Dance Marathon
2. School of Medicine
3. College of Arts & Sciences
4. MLK Scholars Program
5. UofL Health – James Graham Brown Cancer Center

Ambassador Impact

Three hundred, seventy-seven ambassadors volunteered as fundraisers for the event, raising 558 gifts with an average gift amount of $69. These top five ambassadors will receive additional funding to the area of their choice thanks to an anonymous donor:

1. Brian Buford
2. Jennifer Koch
3. Leslie Friesen
4. Amanda LeDuke
5. Lora Haynes

Early Bird Challenge

The Early Bird Challenge winner is the group raising the most funds by midnight on Oct. 20. This year’s winner is RaiseRed Dance Marathon.

Raise Some L is sponsored annually by University Advancement. More information about donating to UofL can be found here.