2026 One Day One KU raises over $42,800 for School of Social Welfare
LAWRENCE – The ninth annual One Day One KU was a success for the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.
On April 28-29, 244 donors gave $27,892 to support social work students and social work education at KU. The School received an additional $15,000 in donor-supported funds through participation challenges, bringing the total amount raised to $42,892.
Donations from One Day One KU will provide funds to students through scholarships, the Student Emergency Fund, and the Practicum Student Support Fund.
Donors pledged $12,500 through nine matching gifts for this year’s event, adding to the impact of donations made to the School of Social Welfare during One Day One KU.
- Carol Rice Lightner Challenge for Social Welfare Practicum Support
- Challenge for Social Welfare Scholarship Support
- Elise & Robert Chapline Challenge for Student Emergency Support
- Kelli Carroll & David Ross Challenge for Social Welfare Practicum Support
- Kelli Carroll & David Ross Challenge for Social Welfare Student Emergency Needs
- Dean's Challenge for Student Success
- Elise & Robert Chapline Challenge for Social Welfare Practicum Support
- Kim Adams Social Welfare Student Practicum Support Challenge
- Eric & Kristie Sigler Challenge for Social Welfare Practicum Support
Gifts to the School of Social Welfare were part of a university-wide, 24-hour giving event that ran from noon on Tuesday, April 28, until noon on Wednesday, April 29. KU raised a total of $5,137,966 from more than 7,000 gifts, setting a new record for the giving day. Read more about the impact of the ninth annual One Day One KU.
In the past nine years, donors have contributed more than $188,000 to the School of Social Welfare through One Day One KU.
Make a gift to the KU School of Social Welfare.
Practicum student support
More than 120 gifts made during One Day One KU will support students in practicum, a for-credit internship that is a vital piece of social work education. While some practicum placements are paid, many are not. Donations from One Day One KU will help offset the unseen costs of practicum and provide important financial relief for students.
Practicum student support funds help students with unpaid placements cover practicum-related costs such as gas, vehicle wear and tear, professional clothing, childcare, and professional development. In the past two years, 29 BSW and MSW students have received Student Practicum Support Awards.
Practicum sites include small and large nonprofits, hospitals and clinics, behavioral health centers, child welfare offices, residential settings, schools and other organizations.
In 2024-2025, KU social work students contributed more than 156,000 service hours through their practicum placements, with an estimated economic impact of $1.63 million. Students contributed more than 108,400 service hours in Kansas.
Student Emergency Fund
The School's Student Emergency Fund helps students overcome unexpected financial obstacles that could keep them from completing their social work education.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, donor support provided over $46,800 in emergency funding to 35 students.
Scholarships
In Kansas, social work graduates fill critical roles in areas including behavioral health, child welfare, healthcare, and more. Scholarships support the next generation of social workers by increasing access to education and reducing student debt.
In 2024-2025, the School of Social Welfare awarded $350,000 in scholarships to 175 students.
The monetary value of practicum service is calculated using the average of wages for paid practicum placements reported to the KU School of Social Welfare by agency partners. For 2024-2025, the average reported wage was $15.03/hour.