UNH Today

This year’s (603) Challenge features some novel ways for donors to both provide and augment their support to a specific area of the university.

One is a photo contest on Facebook that will award $5,000 to the program or club whose image receives the most likes by the time the challenge ends on Friday, June 9, at 6:03 p.m.

An annual appeal that features gift-matching funds provided by underwriters, The (603) Challenge illustrates the power that individuals have to make a difference to students and to specific areas of UNH, even through small gifts.

Hilary Witt, head coach of women’s ice hockey, says, “With the ability to have donations doubled, we’ve seen an incredible increase in support to our program, which allows us to provide a top-notch experience to every student-athlete who walks through the doors of the Whitt.”

Funds donated during the challenge are put to work in their designated areas right away. Some participating areas identify a project that challenge funds will support, such as the van that the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences hopes to purchase for their student STEMbassadors program, which delivers STEM-focused activities to schools across New Hampshire.

“Last year, we used the funds from The (603) Challenge to recognize Coach Peter Cathey with a boat named in his honor,” says Rachel Rawlinson ’99, head coach for men’s and women’s rowing. “This year, the funds raised will go toward a new truck to safely haul our equipment to all the locations where we train and compete. We would be unable to make these purchases without the support of our alumni, parents and friends.”

“Contributions made to the Sustainability Institute will benefit our sustainability fellows program,” says communications and information coordinator Colleen Flaherty. “Building a professional network in the sustainability community can be challenging. The fellows program provides an opportunity to complete a meaningful project with lasting impact and build a network of peers and mentors.”

After the challenge launched on June 3, $150,000 in available matching funds were claimed in record time. But a series of underwriter-sponsored bonus challenges, such as the Nifty $50 Alumni Bonus and $1K Power Hours, have inspired more online contributions.

The (603) Challenge surpassed last year’s dollar and donor benchmarks within the first three days, but there is still time to capitalize on special bonus challenges and to vote for your favorite #UNH603 photo, before it ends. In addition, faculty and alumni donors at UNH Manchester and Paul College have issued donor challenges for each of those areas. Find more details at unh.edu/603.

Rise to the #UNH603 Challenge