Press Releases

Wearing Pins with Pride – Supporting the University of Reading – University of Reading

Release Date : 22 September 2009

The University of Reading is proud to be one of the UK higher-education institutions celebrating University Donor Pin Week, a national initiative aimed at raising awareness of philanthropic support for higher-education.

The University has given donor pins to its Reading Pioneers, supporters who kindly donate £1,000 or more each year, and Blandford Club members, who make a regular donation by direct debit.

The last five years have seen philanthropic support for Reading increase considerably. Over 4000 people donate to the University and more than £17 million has been given to support a wide variety of important projects. Donors have been encouraged to wear their pins to highlight their generosity and demonstrate the value of supporting the University, which is consistently ranked as one of the top 200 universities in the world.

Andy Wood, Director of Development and Alumni Relations said: "Our donors provide essential financial support and we are delighted their generosity is being celebrated this week. Their commitment allows us to plan for the future with a greater degree of certainty, and offer help to talented students who would otherwise be unable to benefit from higher education. They also enhance our ability to find answers to some of the most important questions facing today's society, such as climate change, cardiovascular health and corporate leadership. "

Muriel Hirst, one of Reading's longest standing supporters said: "I have been associated with Reading for more than 40 years, and have supported an MSc student from the developing world every year since 1995 through the Wallace and Muriel Hirst Fund. Receiving the first Reading Pioneer donor pin at the Annual Donor day was a real highlight for me. Now people point it out whenever I'm wearing it and I am able to tell them about all the good work I support at the University."

Reading is one of many universities to give donor pins to its supporters; Bristol, Birmingham, Bath and Warwick are just a few. They will also be inviting their donors to make a special effort to wear pins. In this way, institutions aim to raise the visibility of the influential community which philanthropically supports the work of universities in the UK.

If you would like more information please contact the University's Stewardship Manager, Shanti Windsor on 0118 378 8268 / email: s.d.windsor@reading.ac.uk

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For all media enquiries please contact James Barr, University of Reading Press Officer on 0118 378 7115 or by email on j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk