April 19 is Cornell Giving Day 2016, a 24-hour period designated to focus the global Cornell community on supporting the university’s mission.

“Cornell is committed to finding knowledge-based solutions for world problems,” says Fred Van Sickle, vice president for alumni affairs and development. “Every gift to Cornell any day of the year supports this mission, of course, but when thousands of us come together on one special day, we make a visible, historic impact.”

The effects of one day of giving, Van Sickle says, could spark momentum for projects that will be felt far into the future at the university – and all over the world. The point is not so much the dollar amount as the spirit and awareness raised for Cornell’s impact in the world.

“The goal of Giving Day is to bring together the Cornell community around the world for one big purpose – raising support for Cornell,” says Jen Kwiatkowski, associate director of the Cornell Annual Fund, which is spearheading the effort. “We hope to raise the bar from last year’s success.”

On Cornell Giving Day 2015, the university’s first, just over 9,600 gifts generated $6.9 million; alumni, parents and friends from all 50 states and 54 countries got involved by giving, sharing social media updates and watching 24 hours of live-streamed interviews hosted (in a 24-hour marathon) by Keith Hannon, assistant director of digital innovation for Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development.

“Our primary focus this year is on growing the number of donors who participate,” says Matt Siegel, senior director of the Cornell Annual Fund. “With all of the world-class and leading-edge programs here, it is a way for our alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends to identify a place within the university that they are passionate about and make a difference in that area.”

Starting at midnight EDT, leaderboards on the Giving Day website, givingday.cornell.edu, will show updates and a competition among colleges and units. Challenge funds are set to be unlocked during a competition among alumni classes, too.

“We are very excited about a small group of leadership donors who make very generous gifts to fuel the challenges being promoted throughout the day,” says Siegel. “Each new gift will go toward unlocking these additional challenge dollars to make gifts even more valuable to Cornell.”

Hannon will once again stay up for 24 hours broadcasting entertaining and informative live stream interviews and performances from guests such as former Cornell football player and actor Ed Marinaro ’72 and the Big Red Band.

Cornellians can check in often to follow the action throughout the day, says Kwiatkowski: “We want the Cornell family, near and far, to have fun with this day and see what we can achieve together.”

Kate Klein is a writer for Alumni Affairs and Development.