On March 4, Pomona College makes history with its inaugural Giving Day — bringing together the College community in a shared commitment to support students and shape their future.
Pomona College is preparing to celebrate its inaugural Giving Day on March 4-5, 2026, a 24-hour celebration of collective generosity inviting alumni, families, faculty, staff and friends to rally in support of the Sagehen community.
With an ambitious goal of 1,690 donors — one for every student on campus this academic year — this milestone highlights the power of participation and the impact of gifts of all sizes to support the Pomona student experience from research and study-away opportunities to athletics and music. In the lead-up to Giving Day, we asked Sagehens to share what Pomona and this day means to them. Here’s what they had to say.
Giving Day Represents “Togetherness”
For some current students, philanthropy is not a distant concept — it shapes their daily lives.
“Knowing that the Pomona community invests in us is incredibly motivating,” says Associated Students of Pomona College President Grace Zheng ’26. “It reminds us that we’re a part of a strong community that lasts long after graduation.”
Corinne Blaise ’28 sees donor support as the thing that made her Pomona journey possible.
“As a student from the East Coast, Pomona’s financial support has made my California experience possible,” Blaise says. “These opportunities exist because of collective support, not individual effort. That’s what Giving Day represents — togetherness and the investment in the future of our community.”
Where Small Investments Produce Outsized Results
Some faculty members shared that they experience philanthropy’s impact in deeply personal ways.
"When I was a Pomona student, gifts given to the College were invaluable to my education,” says Lise Abrams ’91, the Peter W. Stanley Professor of Linguistics and Cognitive Science. “Financial aid, scholarships and support to conduct summer research were critical for giving me the foundation of a successful career as a professor.”
Today, standing in front of her classroom, Abrams says she sees how those investments multiply. “The impact of these gifts is so much more far-reaching than helping a single student, and as a long-time donor myself, I believe that gifts are essential for Pomona to continue offering exceptional educational opportunities.”
Professor of Economics Pierangelo De Pace echoes that gifts to Pomona directly benefit the lives of students — in and out of the classroom.
“Your contribution, whatever the size, has a direct impact on actual students.” De Pace says. “It's the scholarship that lets a first-generation student enroll, or the funding that sends a junior to do research abroad. Pomona is a place where small investments produce outsized results.”
Pushing Academic and Creative Boundaries
Pomona alumni — more than 25,000 Sagehens whose lives have been shaped by decades of philanthropy — carry the College’s imprint into careers, communities and causes around the world.
For Lisa Bialy Wilson ’98, participating in Giving Day is an expression of her appreciation.
“I am motivated to support Pomona College to express my gratitude for the educational and life opportunities it has afforded me,” Wilson says. “I feel immense gratitude toward my Pomona professors for inspiring and engaging me as a person and as a student. They pushed the boundaries of my creativity and my thinking so that I could best realize my growth potential.”
Helping Students Spread Their Wings
Pomona is more than a campus to families — it is a home-away-from-home where their students grow intellectually and personally.
“Pomona has brought together a unique blend of intellectually curious peers that have pushed my son both inside and outside the classroom,” says Family Leadership Council (FLC) Chair Bill Riley P’26.
Todd Russo P’28, a member of the FLC, says he believes Giving Day offers families a meaningful way to sustain that environment.
“Pomona is a special place and it needs all our support, whether financial or otherwise, to be best able to provide this unique and invaluable education environment,” Russo says. “Participating in Giving Day, in any amount you are comfortable with, is one way to do that.”
Join us on Pomona College Giving Day by making a gift to support today's students and help transform their tomorrows. Explore the Giving Day toolkit to learn how you can help spread the word in your networks and communities.