The Fairfield Fund’s month-long giving event, the Young Alumni Challenge, has begun. Now through November 17, a donation of any size by at least 500 young alumni will unlock $50,000 in challenge funds from Fairfield’s Board of Trustees. These funds will provide students access to a quality Fairfield education.

The Young Alumni Challenge adds an element of competition by having a class-by-class contest among the young alumni from the graduating classes of 2010 through 2019. The two class years with the highest percentage of alumni participation will have a student scholarship recipient selected in honor of their class year.

Last year, young alumni well-surpassed the Challenge goal. An impressive 592 young alumni participated and unlocked the Challenge gift. “The support of young alumni is key for Fairfield University and its mission,” said Senior Director of Annual Giving William Knapp. “The Challenge gives these Stags an opportunity to give back to their school and leverage their support while competing in an exciting challenge. Our University’s young alumni are an exceptional group of individuals who are committed to giving back and strengthening the institution for future Stags.”

Support from Fairfield’s young alumni helped the University reach an overall 20 percent alumni participation rate (APR) last year. This is a level of support Fairfield has not enjoyed in many years, and it helps increase the University’s status among peer institutions. The APR is an important component of industry rankings — including US News and World Report’s annual college rankings — and it plays an important role in increasing the value of a Fairfield degree now and for years to come.

To learn more about the Young Alumni Challenge and how to help unlock Challenge funds for student scholarships, visit fairfield.edu/yachallenge.