PISCATAWAY, N.J. (April 23, 2020) – Giving Tuesday was established as a global generosity movement in 2012 to unite and heal communities in good times and bad. Giving Tuesday Now will take place on May 5 this year and will reflect the spirit of giving as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.
 
R Fund, Rutgers Athletics' development department, will participate in the initiative by directing gifts on Giving Tuesday directly toward Scarlet Knight student-athlete wellness. Supporters are encouraged to motivate others on social media using #GivingTuesdayNow and #TheBellsMustRing and by visiting and sharing the R Fund Giving Page.
 
"During this difficult and uncertain time, Rutgers Athletics is committed to ensuring that every student-athlete has the proper environment and resources to continue their education at home," said Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs. "Your gifts to the Big Ten Champions Fund will help our Scarlet Knights in their continued pursuit of excellence in academics, physical conditioning and mental health wellness."
 
Since its inception, the Big Ten Champions Fund has provided a best-in-class student-athlete experience "On the Banks," nourishing the bodies and minds of our current and future Scarlet Knights by supporting sports medicine, nutrition, academic programs, travel and student-athlete recruitment. The Big Ten Champions Fund has been a priority during The Bells Must Ring campaign during the 2019-20 fiscal year.
 
Gifts to Rutgers Athletics on Giving Tuesday will be used to cover temporary housing for displaced student-athletes, a nutrition per diem to cover food expenses, equipment for training at home, as well as other resources to help academic continuity and mental health wellness.
 
The Big Ten Champions Fund has already been hard at work creating a digital forum for student-athletes to post questions to coaches and staff, providing technology updates to continue education at home and connecting the strength and conditioning staff to our student-athletes to assess at-home training options.
 
On the last worldwide Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2019, the global giving day generated $2 billion in gifts, just in the United States, and inspired millions of people worldwide to volunteer, perform countless acts of kindness, and donate their voices, time, money and goods. The additional giving day planned for May 5, 2020 is being deployed in response to needs expressed by communities and leaders around the world.
 

For all Rutgers development news, visit rfund.scarletknights.com and follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@R_Fund), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/SupportRFund).
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