By Caleb Choate
I’ve been thinking a lot about creek stone lately.
You can’t have Houghton without creek stone. It’s a symbol firmly established in our campus zeitgeist: Houghton’s history is (quite literally) made of the stuff. For our community, it’s a symbol of God’s providence during times of both great need and growth. It also symbolizes what can happen when Christ-centered people rally together in work and prayer around a shared mission. Like creek stone in a wall, when we all come together and contribute, even in a small way, we create something greater than the sum of mere parts.
Houghton’s Annual One Day Giving Challenge is kind of like building with creek stone—when we come together and offer what we have, we create a greater and stronger Houghton for years to come.
One Day Giving Challenge is Houghton’s biggest fundraising event of the year. On last year’s One Day Giving Challenge, Houghton University raised $1,840,435 in gifts and pledges from 2,125 supporters to support student scholarships, capital projects, and student-centered initiatives.
During the day, on Friday, April 11, students are encouraged to visit the Campus Center with friends and make a gift. Vice President for Advancement and External Engagement Karl Sisson shared that each student’s gift has a multiplying impact due to the lead matching and challenge gifts of generous donors.
Every gift given to the Student Scholarship Fund will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $360,000, and when the threshold of 1,883 donors is crossed, an additional $775,000 will be given to Houghton on the day. Not only this, but for every gift a student, their parent, or their grandparent makes, President Lewis will contribute an additional $19 to the student scholarship fund. If all three generations give, then an additional $19 will be given on top of that.
Sisson emphasized the importance of every gift, no matter the amount, saying, “Not only is a gift to the Student Scholarship Fund doubled—it generates an additional $19 gift through the President’s Challenge. Students can also play a significant role as ambassadors by encouraging family and friends to support this place which has such a tremendous impact on all of our lives.”
Given the math, if a student, parent, and grandparent all contribute $1 each, the total gift to Houghton will become $82 and will put us three donors closer to meeting our 1883 Challenge.
Houghton Senior Esther Tse ’25 acknowledged that the funds raised during One Day Giving Challenge are vital for supporting the Christ-centered education that Houghton provides, “At Houghton, we challenge each other to be better, we have conversations about justice and equality, and we show up with love and intention for each other. Supporting Houghton through the One Day Giving Challenge means we are keeping that spirit alive for future students.”
Sisson acknowledged the incredible financial impact of the One Day Giving Challenge but suggested that an even greater point to celebrate is how Houghton’s community unites in the day through gratitude and generosity.
Amanda (Shine ’05) Zambrano, Houghton’s Director of Advancement Communications and Editor of the Houghton Magazine, echoes this claim. She shared, “One Day Giving Challenge reminds me that the Houghton vision belongs to everybody who knows and loves Houghton. I’m reminded that our community is so much bigger than just these buildings sitting around the Quad.” She continued, “I want students to walk away from the day with the knowledge that there are so many people you’ve never met who care about you. They love you enough to make sacrificial gifts so that you can be here.” ★
