During UW–Madison’s annual giving day, Day of the Badger, 218 alumni and friends donated $122,309 to support the La Follette School, breaking the school’s previous record set in 2024 and making it one of the top units on campus in money raised. The funds will help the La Follette School prepare the next generation of public policy leaders.
The school is immensely grateful to David & Madeleine Lubar, Michael & JoAnn Youngman, Jennifer Abele, Roger Ervin, Terry Lierman, Jack & Sarah Salzwedel, Kevin Hayden, Chuck Pruitt, Carolyn Hill, and Bob Lang for creating a generous $70,500 challenge gift. With help from alumni and other supporters of the school, La Follette unlocked the full challenge amount by surpassing its goal of 200 donations.
“This support helps us ensure that our students continue to benefit from academic excellence, hands-on research opportunities, and meaningful mentorship experiences that shape them into the thoughtful leaders our communities need,” said La Follette School Director and Professor Susan Webb Yackee.
During Day of the Badger, alumni from 48 different class years stretching back to the class of 1971 contributed. In the annual class competition, the class of 2018 continues its winning streak, with 29% of graduates donating during Day of the Badger. The class of 2016 came in second place with 19% of their class donating, and in third place was the class of 2023 with 13%.
Funding helps the school provide rich learning experiences for students, supports faculty efforts to prepare students for public policy careers and advancing critical research, and bolsters the school’s work to connect campus with the communities throughout Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association coordinates the annual campuswide giving event. Day of the Badger’s 1,848-minute duration represents the university’s founding in 1848.