Big Give at I-House 2022
The Big Give was truly a day of celebration. The university-wide annual fundraising event was nothing short of exciting as students, faculty, alumni and other members of the Cal community came together to support the amazing programs and organizations that we have here at UC Berkeley by spreading awareness and giving. Current residents at I-House jumped in on the fun as well, kicking the day off with hosting a Big Give Coffee Hour in the Great Hall. Activities included resident performances, a premiere of a short film that I created, and a raffle for I-House merchandise, including a few of our limited edition 90th Anniversary I-House posters.
Raffle winner Natalie Chan holding one of our 90th anniversary posters, residents gathering to watch my short film, the delicious snacks we had at the Coffee Hour, and Bryan Chang and Allen Mao playing on the grand piano
The Great Hall was decorated with beautiful posters and signs that said “Thank You” in different languages, representing the multitude of cultures that make up I-House. Residents stopped by to take some pictures with these signs, as well as enjoyed some snacks and refreshments during the event, including freshly baked cookies made by our wonderful chefs!
Throughout the day, residents also wrote notes on our Gratitude board with reasons for why they give to I-House, ranging from creating “lifelong friendships” to “random dining hall conversations.”
Notes written by our residents on our Gratitude board
Big Give festivities didn’t stop at the Coffee Hour. Our social media ambassadors worked diligently to circulate our hashtags and spread awareness about our I-House fundraiser by participating in various social media contests on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. I created a short film, Why I Give: An Ode to I-House, which reflected on the amazing experiences I’ve had at I-House so far. We heard back from alumni from all around the world who said that my video rekindled fond memories from when they used to live at I-House, which was really heartwarming!
Our I-House Resident Council also worked hard to promote the Big Give within our resident community by tabling during mealtimes, as well as organizing a beautiful viola and cello performance for residents to enjoy while eating dinner. Adam Brownell, the president of the I-House Resident Council, wrote a lovely message about why he is grateful for I-House and it was emailed to all of our alumni, friends, and fans.
Our hardworking resident council and Steve Shin and Breanna Yang performing a viola and cello duet at dinner
Ultimately, the Big Give was a huge success as we raised over $50,000 from 170 donors, reaching our goals of achieving 135 gifts and receiving donations from 138 unique donors. This allowed us to unlock both a $1,500 challenge gift from Cal and a $10,000 challenge gift from the I-House Board of Directors!
Our donations and completed challenges!
On behalf of the I-House community, thank you to everyone who supported us during the Big Give this year. We wouldn’t have this amazing institution without you!