University News

Purple & Gold Day April 24

April 19, 2018

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MACOMB, IL -- The tradition of celebrating Purple & Gold Day at Western began on April 24, 2000, with the close of the University's 100-year celebration. The date in 2000 marked the 100-year anniversary of the day in 1899 when the Illinois Legislature approved the creation of what would become WIU.

To show school spirit and support of Western, members of the WIU community are encouraged to wear purple and gold on Tuesday, April 24, attend the Purple & Gold Day Alumni Breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Alumni House and attend a Purple & Gold Day alumni and friends social at the Sports Corner in Macomb or Lombardo's Trattoria in St. Louis. The Macomb and St. Louis events will be held from 5-7 p.m. Pre-registration for Purple & Gold Day events is preferred; however, walk-ins are welcome.

In conjunction with Purple & Gold Day, the third annual "Western Challenge" at Western Illinois University will kick off at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 24. Held each year on Purple & Gold Day, the Western Challenge is a 24-hour online giving campaign aimed at inspiring alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends to express their support of Western students by making a personal gift. Donors can also visit the Western Challenge site and choose to become an "advocate" to help drive the effort via social media, as well as issue their own challenge or matching gifts to inspire increased participation.

This year's "challenge" is for at least 1,500 people to add their name to the online donor wall with their gift made between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. April 24. Last year, the Western Challenge engaged 1,071 donors, which set a record for individual giving to the University within a 24-hour period.

For more information or to pre-register for a Purple & Gold Day 2018 event, visit wiu.edu/alumni/purplegoldday.php, email A-Association@wiu.edu, or call (309) 298-1914. For more information on the Western Challenge, visit https://tinyurl.com/ydbfd3by.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing