Thankful Thursday: Honoring the Journey
Description
On November 19, we're taking a step back from the rush of the holiday season and celebrating a new Central College tradition: Thankful Thursday. This day creates a moment dedicated to reflecting on what matters most: community, opportunity and the people who helped shape our path.
For generations of Central students, that path was made possible because someone chose to believe in them. Today, we pause to give thanks for the alumni, friends and families whose generosity fuels the Central experience, and we invite you to pay that gratitude forward.
Double Your Impact: The Matching Challenge
Gratitude is best when shared. Thanks to the intentional generosity of dedicated alumni and friends, every gift made on Thankful Thursday will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $60,000, creating a total impact of $120,000 for the Journey Scholarship Fund.
Special Thanks to Our Lead Donors
We extend our deepest gratitude to our challengers who made this match possible: Don & Roxie Morrison; John '87 and Julie Pothoven Fisher '90; Rick '70 and Sarah Drexler Ryan '71; Scott & Cindy Van Tasell; Jim '10H and Eunice Vander Zyl Van Tuyl '68; and our dedicated anonymous donors.
Intentional Giving, Lasting Impact
Every Central student receives a scholarship for every year they attend. This opens doors to rigorous academics, hands-on faculty mentorship, global experiential learning and lifelong friendships. Your gift today helps remove financial barriers that stand in the way of a student's dream.
This Thankful Thursday, make a gift with purpose. Celebrate the gratitude in your heart by changing a life forever.
$50
A Seed of Gratitude
Every scholarship is built on individual acts of kindness. Your gift demonstrates to a student that their community believes in their future.
$100
Heart of the Dutch Family
Boost a student’s financial aid package. Your $100 gift, matched to $200, has the potential to help cover the essential cost of books, lab fees and learning resources included in their scholarship.
$250
Opportunity Gift
Intentional support expands possibilities and helps students access transformative campus experiences.
$500
Half Journey Scholarship
With our challengers' generous dollar-for-dollar match, your $500 gift fully funds a $1,000 Journey Scholarship for a Central student, opening doors to a life-changing college experience.
$1,000
Full Journey Scholarship
Directly fund a full Journey Scholarship for a Central student. Because of YOU (and matched to $2,000!), deserving students can receive the gift of a fully funded scholarship.