On Friday, March 13, into Saturday, March 14, or 3.1415, a total of 1,206 donors, comprised of trustees, alumni and alumnae, faculty, staff, parents, students, and friends, raised a grand total of $260,614 for Rensselaer as part of the second annual RPi Day. The results created new records both in donors and dollars raised for the Institute in a single day, breaking last year’s record of 819 donors and $232,111 raised.
RPi Day encouraged all members of the Rensselaer community to “Complete the Circle” by making gifts to the Rensselaer Annual Fund, their favorite program, team, school, or department, to help provide financial support for Rensselaer students.
The day was planned around the traditional Pi Day, which is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 (or 3/14), since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits of pi in decimal form.
Four trustees—Jeff Kodosky ʼ70, Paula Simon ʼ68, Ed Zander ʼ68, and Admiral Ronald Zlatoper ’63—provided leadership gifts to help inspire giving as part of RPi Day 2015.
Throughout the day, several emails and social media posts were employed to encourage participation among the Rensselaer community. A total of 175 personalized thank you videos were produced with the help of Red & White students, and shared via social media with use of the hashtag #RPiDay15. A wide range of alumni classes participated in the day, including a member of the class of 1942, as well as a Sage Class of 1938 graduate, whose daughter attended Rensselaer in the 1970s.