Oakland University Annual Giving hosted its Big Pajama Party in the Oakland Center Habitat on March 5 from 9 p.m. to midnight.
The event was hosted in the buildup to the Black and Gold Giving Day on March 6. Annual Giving Day is hosted to garner funds to support various student programs, research projects, campus expansion projects and more.
The Big Pajama Party was the first of its kind. Assistant Director of Annual Giving Kristin Rohrbeck said she wanted to host something student-centered.
“We want to do something for students — specifically for giving days — because the reason why people give and want to get engaged in giving days, in general, is typically to help our students,” Rohrbeck said. “We want to make sure we’re creating scholarships. We’re creating pathways to success for our students. By increasing the impact of gifts on Giving Day and other kinds of initiatives like this, this is how we’re able to do that.”
Additionally, she hopes that students will spread the word about Black and Gold Giving Day on their social networks through posts and photographs.
“Giving doesn’t start until midnight…so this just helps to increase that digital footprint going into Giving Day,” she said. “We don’t want to be flat digitally.”
Annual Giving Graduate Assistant Skyler Stone added that the event aimed to garner a positive outlook on giving days.
“I just hope that [students] have a great experience around OU and the community that we’re trying to build on campus,” Stone said. “We have a bigger campus, and sometimes we spread out a little bit and don’t connect with people, other students, faculty, and we’re hoping just to bring everyone together to have a good experience.”
Students collected free sunglasses, t-shirts and buttons and enjoyed board games, puzzles, card games, a mac and cheese bar, bracelet making and a photo booth with a professional photographer.
Additionally, the Habitat showed “High School Musical” and the Grizz Den was also open nearby to play foosball and esports.
Sam Vargo, an OU student, said she appreciated the event for the destressing opportunities it provided.
“We just like to get out and do things, especially since we’re all stressed with work and classes,” Vargo said. “It’s a great way to meet new people around campus.”
Carina Littlejohn echoed a similar sentiment.
“There was someone who just sat down with us who I would never have ever interacted with if it weren’t for them sitting down here,” she said.
Rohrbeck said it is important for students to know they have an important role in Black and Gold Giving Day.
“Students have an important role in Giving Day — not necessarily to make a gift, but to help spread the word about the amazing things happening in Oakland University including how they are directly impacted by philanthropy and scholarships, and the amazing things that we’re able to do on campus that do impact the students,” Rohrbeck said.
“If they can help get the word out to their parents, friends and extended networks, that’s especially a way that students can help to continue to grow what we’re able to do to support students.”
Although Annual Giving Day has ended, interested parties can continue to donate online. For more information about Annual Giving, visit University Advancement’s website.
