Tomorrow marks the 125th birthday of Washington State University and to celebrate, the Washington State Foundation is attempting to raise $125,000 from 1,250 donors in 36 hours.

Yesterday at noon, the WSU Foundation launched the Cougs Give 125 campaign to receive donations from students, teachers, alumni and families, and will continue until midnight.

The money raised will benefit the university. Donors have the ability to scroll down a list and select a certain department or organization within WSU to donate to. Some examples from the options include The Museum of Art Building Campaign, the Honors College, and Cougar Athletics.

“Donors can donate anything … they feel they want to,” said Tyrell Warren-Burnett, interim director of development and annual giving for the WSU Foundation.

Cougs Give 125 raised more than $115,000 from 345 donors in the first eight hours of the project.

“I’m really impressed with the number of people from every generation that’s donating,” said Justin Ware, director of interaction communication at Bentz Whaley Flessner (BWF). “People who graduated from WSU in the ‘50s are donating and the sizes of the gifts are huge.”

Yesterday, the birthday celebration began with Cougs Give 125 hosting a T-shirt giveaway in the CUB along with a photo booth from noon – 4 p.m. Tablets were also stationed nearby for making donations. Any pictures taken in the photo booths could be entered into an online contest for a chance to win free Springfest tickets.

“The photo booth was really busy and people were really excited to know what 125 meant,” said WSU Foundation volunteer Fergie Rodriguez.

Butch and the Washington State University Alumni Association will also be at the Terrell Mall at 11 a.m. today for a cake cutting event along with a performance from the WSU marching band.

Cougs Give 125 has been active on social media with the hashtag #CougsGive125 to update people on their progress. To make donations and see live results of the money raised go to http://cougsgive.wsu.edu. 

Reporting by Minna Lee