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Record annual day of giving fuels student success

 

In one powerful day of pride, purpose, competition and generosity, the Oregon State community had a record-breaking Dam Proud Day 2026. While the day has always been about celebrating the university and engaging its community, Beaver Nation showed up on April 29 and made over 12,400 gifts totaling $4.1 million in 24 hours. Their support advances student success and strengthens programs across the university as part of the $1.75 billion Believe It campaign.

Over seven years, the annual day of giving led by the OSU Foundation has continuously grown in size, spirit and impact.

“Dam Proud Day is about all of us getting together and reaffirming our commitment to OSU, students and Beavers everywhere,” said OSU President Jayathi Murthy. “Dam Proud Day is also the way we connect ourselves to the future of OSU and all the things we’re trying to get done through our strategic plan. This is the day where our community puts the might of their generosity behind making OSU’s big goals happen. Thank you to everyone who made this celebration possible.”

Donors representing all 50 states and 15 countries made gifts to over 250 funds, more than 80% of which directly benefit students. Each builds the momentum of university-wide efforts to increase student success – ensuring all students have the resources they need to complete their degrees on time, fully equipped to launch their desired careers. 

Student participation in Dam Proud Day continues to grow, with more than 70 student clubs competing this year for over $30,000 in prizes. The community responded with 2,500 gifts totaling over $105,000, nearly doubling both the number of gifts and the dollars directed to student organizations in 2025.

“Dam Proud Day reminds everyone in the OSU community of the importance of philanthropy, and we’re especially happy to keep involving more students, who will become the next generation of alumni and supporters. Giving should be joyful and that’s what we are trying to inspire among students,” said Shawn L. Scoville, OSU Foundation president and CEO. “Special thanks go to our challenge donors, who inspire generosity through a happy competition.”

Over 250 challenge gifts, together surpassing $2 million, encouraged additional gifts of all sizes. A $25,000 challenge from President Murthy and her husband, Sanjay Mathur, benefits the university’s Finish in Four initiative, which helps students overcome financial barriers that could prevent them from graduating. Finish in Four received the most dollars of any single program on giving day.

Dam Proud Day also spotlighted the OSU Athletics Fund for Excellence and Beaver Nation rallied, giving nearly $1.2 million for student-athletes, teams and athletic programs.

 

 
“What I love most about Dam Proud Day is that it brings everybody together to provide funding to great programs, and to do it in an energetic and fun way. We can all participate, in big ways and small ways, and celebrate what the university does for students, communities and our world.” – Dave Underriner, ’81, chair, OSU Foundation Board of Trustees

Current, past and upcoming chairs of the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees offered $175,000 in prizes to incentivize friendly competition among the participating programs and reward the day’s top-performing projects. The Trustee Chairs Challenge was funded by: current board chair Dave Underriner, ’81, and Barbara Underriner; past board chairs Penny Atkins, ’79, and  Gary Atkins; Ruth Beyer, ’77; Eric Schoenstein, ’88, and Kelly Douglas; John Stirek ’82, and Kate Stirek, ’83; Patrick Stone, ’74, and Vicki Stone; Tom Toomey, ’82; and chair-elect Patty Bedient, ’75, and  Ron Bedient.

A block party at OSU-Cascades’ Bruckner Courtyard and street fair at the Student Experience Center Plaza in Corvallis featured activities and dozens of tables highlighting programs that benefit from donor support. Beavs worldwide tuned in to the livestreamed talk show filmed at the plaza, which included about 50 live interviews with coaches, students, faculty and university leaders (watch highlights).

During April in Portland – home to 62,000 Oregon State alumni – the OSU Foundation hosted Dam Proud Day pop-up events at three businesses with many Beaver employees: Daimler Truck, Hoffman Construction and Intel. The bipedal robot named Digit from OSU spinoff company Agility Robotics – featured on the cover of Time magazine as a top 2024 invention – joined these gatherings as well as a Dam Proud Day College of Pharmacy celebration at the OHSU Robertson Life Sciences Building.

 

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“I personally feel the Dam Proud Day love, and I know that every other student will, too.”

Enrique Garcia, Pharm.D. ’28

“I’m here with Global Formula Racing. It’s the donations of supporters that allows us to continue this program, and we’re so, so grateful for anybody that helps us out.”

Ruby Kilpper, ’27

“Dam Proud Day showcases the best of OSU.”

Camille Noriega, ’28

“Five, ten years in the future, what’ll really stick with us is the experiences we got at university with our peers, our friends, through clubs and organizations. So it’s important to support these causes, because it’s how creativity and innovation flourish.”

Rolando Torres, ’28

“I would like to say a big, massive thank you to everybody who donated today. You make it easier for me to participate in the Honors College. Doing a thesis made it possible for me to become the student that I am today.”

Kaitlyn Scanlon, ’26

Continue the impact

In May, join Beavers in continuing to make a difference through Days of Service, and save the date for the next Dam Proud Day: April 28, 2027.