Blasting science experiments into space. Sending students to study abroad in Cuba, England and Vietnam. Providing local moms participating in a research study care packages filled with newborn essentials.
What do these projects have in common? The support of University of Maryland community members through the crowdfunding platform LaunchUMD, now celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Students, faculty and staff have raised more than $2.2 million from nearly 22,000 donors for 300-plus research endeavors, scholarships, student groups and more. No fundraiser has been too small or too big, whether it’s sending students to a professional conference or buying a new vehicle for Terps Racing.
“It’s a way to have immediate impact on causes that really resonate,” said Annual Giving Manager Bria Bennett.
As UMD marks Giving Tuesday, part of a global post-Thanksgiving focus on generosity, Terps can make a difference for 23 new student projects on LaunchUMD, such as helping the National Society of Black Engineers recruit and retain underrepresented students or supporting an undergraduate research team studying the adverse side effects of HIV treatments.
And for those looking to give back to their own college or school, or contributing to university priorities like the Campus Pantry, the UMD Student Crisis Fund or the Maryland Promise Program, the new UMD Giving website makes it easy to find topics, programs and initiatives that match your interests.
Take a look back at high-impact LaunchUMD projects from the last 10 years:
Get UMD Biofilms on the next Space-X (2017)
Raised $2,125 (106% of goal)
To better protect astronauts from biofilms—slimy bacteria that can cause infections and contaminations—two undergrads created an experiment to reduce their growth. As finalists in UMD’s Student Spaceflight Experiments Program Mission 11, Audrey (Mannuel) Wildermuth ’19 and Colton Treadway ’19 were guaranteed a spot on SpaceX-12, but had to raise funds to buy experiment materials. Their project took off on Aug. 14, 2017.
“Watching the rocket launch in Florida will forever be one of my top memories from UMD,” said Wildermuth, who has since earned a medical degree and a master’s degree in biotechnology. “No doubt it helped paved the way for more opportunities since college.”
