Students said private donations spur activities at UNC during Carolina Pride Day

Cotton candy, popcorn, a plinko station and a basketball hoop brought students to the Pit to play games while also learning about private donations Tuesday.

The third annual Carolina Pride Day was coordinated by the Heelraisers Student Giving Council, an ambassador program for the Office of University Development.

“It’s a day that we get the students aware of how much the University is impacted by private giving and why we should be proud to say we’re Tar Heels,” said Kayla Blevins, president of Heelraisers.

The Heelraisers’ purpose is to raise awareness of private giving with events like Carolina Pride Day.

“It’s great for students to be aware we go to one of the best universities in the nation,” Blevins said.

Blevins said most students don’t even notice how money from private donors impacts their everyday lives.

“I encourage students to pay attention to things such as private giving and how it affects them personally,” Blevins said, adding that she is a public relations major and that the School of Journalism and Mass Communication relies on private donations for its operations.

“For me, that’s huge because I spend all my time at Carroll.”

Jordan Farthing, director of student giving programs, was also one of the main planners of the event. She said she knew it would serve as a great opportunity to let students know what private giving really is.

“We want to let them know that that’s something they can do as a student,” said Farthing. “Carolina is the University that it is in part because of donors.”

The planning of the event was supervised and sponsored by the Office of University Development.

Blevins said the planning process was similar to the other events they’ve planned. The council contacted Franklin Street restaurants for donations for prizes and for the popcorn and cotton candy.

“Logistic wise, we have to think of the best way to bring people into the Pit and get them involved,” Blevins said.

Freshman Nadaje Paquette said she knew nothing about private giving prior to the activities.

“I saw the advertisement and a lot of people joining in, so I thought I should too,” Paquette said.

Although the private giving aspect was new to Paquette, she did know all about school spirit.

“It means supporting your school no matter what it goes through,” Paquette said.

Other students had the same idea of what student spirit means and why it’s important.

“It just means loving your school no matter what, the good and the bad,” said senior Elizabeth Key.

Blevins was excited the day brought so many students together with Carolina pride.

“We go to a great university and we should be proud to say that,” Blevins said.

university@dailytarheel.com