Anteaters Give Back – Student Philanthropy
Help us raise $30,000 for a new electric golf cart for the Basic Needs Center

The Student Philanthropy Committee at UC Irvine is proud to be part of the Anteaters Give Back campaign, a new initiative designed to create a lasting culture of giving across our campus. This dynamic approach allows all students – undergraduate and graduate alike – to engage in philanthropy early in their academic journey, rather than waiting for their senior class gift. 


Through the Anteaters Give Back campaign, we aim to raise awareness about the importance of student philanthropy. This initiative is not about the size of the donation, but about the act of giving itself – showing that even small contributions can make a big difference when we all come together. 

By supporting this project, you’ll not only help us provide a much-needed resource for our campus but also be part of building a lasting culture of student philanthropy at UC Irvine.

How you can help!


This year, our campaign is focused on supporting the Basic Needs Center, which plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity and supporting students in need.

The center relies on an electric golf cart to efficiently bring supplies to their Fresh Pantry, Mobile Pantry and Snack Racks, which provide nutritious food to students across campus. 

Unfortunately, their current golf cart is aging and increasingly unreliable. A decade-old, it is a secondhand model with no seatbelts, headlights or protective covering on the back. This cart struggles with the steep inclines around campus and is often unable to meet the demands of daily operations. In short, the Basic Needs Center needs a new, reliable and safe vehicle to continue their vital work.



By raising $30,000, we aim to provide the Basic Needs Center with a new GEM electric golf cart that is sturdy, enclosed and much safer for transporting food and supplies.

This new cart will keep supplies secure and let the team transport more with each trip. The enclosed, weather-proof design will ensure that items are safely delivered across campus, and the cart will be able to handle inclines and long distances. 

The new golf cart will allow the Basic Needs Center team of professional staff and student workers to better serve the campus community by picking up donations, transporting resources across campus, and running the Mobile Pantry with increased efficiency.

So, join your fellow Anteaters and consider making a contribution to this important initiative today! And remember, the value of giving back is not the amount you give, but the fact that you are giving at all that truly makes a difference!

A brief history of the UC Irvine class gift program. . .



Throughout the years, we have seen class gifts support many noble efforts across campus. Sometimes, these gifts have been overseen by an individual school to fundraise for the benefit of those students alone. But the majority of class gifts have gone towards improvements that benefit all Anteaters. 


Take a look at this list of iconic past gifts and see if you recognize any landmarks!

1987: Bronze Anteater statue - Bren Events Center

2003: Bench with bronze Anteater using laptop - Student Center

2005: Study Room - Student Center

2007: Support and care for the Giant Anteater at the Santa Ana Zoo

2008: Student Scholarships

2009: Gift designation of student/donor choice

2010: Bronze Bell - UCI Student Center Tower

2011: Distinguished Anteater Award Scholarship

2012: Anteater Emblem - Newkirk Alumni Center

2013: Terrace Stage - UCI Student Center

2014: Children's Rock Climbing Wall - UCI Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders

2015: 3D Printing & Scanning Lab & Tech "Sandbox" at UCI Libraries - Ayala Science Library

2016: Telepresence Robot for UCI Students - School of Education

2020: Financial Aid Scholarships

Like many other areas of campus life, the 2020 pandemic made it difficult to maintain the momentum of the former class gift programs. Which is why we are so excited to bring back this philanthropic opportunity to all Anteaters in 2025 with a fresh take and in support of such a worthy campus institution – the Basic Needs Center!

See what people are sharing about UC Irvine Giving Day 2025!
Anteaters Give Back Donor Map
Rank State Gifts
1 NONE 0
1 AA 0
1 AE 0
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Early Bird Challenge
Event
Early Bird Challenge
Thanks to a generous gift from UC Irvine Foundation trustees Gary and Melanie Singer, donors will be chosen at random to unlock an additional $500 for the school, program or cause supported during the Giving Day Early Access Period (ends 11:59pm on April 21)!
GIVE EARLY
Social Media Challenge
Event
Social Media Challenge
Show your UC Irvine pride! Post on social media with #UCIGivingDay and let us know what you care about most at UC Irvine. We'll be selecting and featuring our favorite posts, and if we feature yours, $500 will be donated in your honor to the initiative mentioned in your post!
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1965 Challenge
$1,965
1965 Challenge
In celebration of UC Irvine's founding, the 1,965th gift will receive $1,965 in matching funds for the school, program or cause supported!
66 / 1,965 Gifts
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Chancellor's Club Elliott Kornhauser $5,000 Matching Gift Challenge!
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Match
Chancellor's Club Elliott Kornhauser $5,000 Matching Gift Challenge!
Help unlock the full potential of Giving Day by matching Elliott Kornhauser’s $5,000 gift to the Chancellor’s Club!
$0 MATCHED
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Questions? See our FAQ.

Or you can contact us at james.yokelle@uci.edu.

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Match your Gift dollar for dollar!