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With a goal of raising $65,000 in 24 hours, Ivy Tech Day 2026 promises a day of fun and fundraising on April 21.
Starting at midnight April 21, the fourth annual Ivy Tech Day is dedicated to raising funds for student success projects, scholarships and emergency support. Over the last three years, the 24-hour event has raised a total of more than $125,000 for students in the Kokomo Service Area with the help of supporters, local businesses and organizations, alumni, faculty and staff.
Kelly Karickhoff, vice chancellor for Development and Community Engagement for the Kokomo Service Area, noted that support for Ivy Tech Day has grown each year – from $25,000 in 2023, to $41,687 in 2024, to $60,600 in 2025. The Kokomo Service Area includes Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski, and Tipton counties.
“We’ve set a goal of $65,000 this year and hope to exceed the 391 gifts we received last year,” Karickhoff said. “And we’ve got dozens of challenges and matches lined up that will make for a fun and exciting day!”
Supporting Ivy Tech Day is easy, Karickhoff added, noting that all gifts stay local and help students who live and work in communities like Kokomo, Logansport, Peru, Rochester, Tipton and Winamac. Donations can be made at giveday.ivytech.edu/Kokomo starting at midnight on April 21. Supporters can watch the Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Region Facebook page for giving opportunities throughout the day and visit local community partners participating in support of this very impactful day.
Among those who have already pledged their support, Security Federal Savings Bank will provide snack and beverage stations for students and employees on the Logansport and Kokomo campuses. With side dishes donated by Rozzi Catering, Community Howard Regional Health will provide a cookout lunch at the Kokomo campus, where entertainment will be provided by The Page Brothers, a musical group whose members are all Ivy Tech graduates. Parkview Hospital Logansport will provide lunch at the Logansport campus. Coca-Cola Bottling Company Kokomo will provide all the drinks for the day. Larison Media is serving as Ivy Tech Day social media promotion partner.
A number of generous supporters have pledged donations as various milestones (the first $2,500, then $7,500, then $12,500, etc.) are achieved during the day. Others have challenged specific groups of potential donors (alumni, employees, residents of specific counties, board members, Circle of Ivy, out-of-state residents, etc.) and will unlock their donations when their challenge is met.
Community participation is important, Karickhoff noted. In honor of Ivy Tech Day, the College is inviting members of the community to wear green to indicate their support. In Peru, Ivy Tech alumna Nikki Nordman, owner of Pizza Quik, will donate 10 percent of the net receipts on food purchased at the restaurant from 5 to 8 p.m. on April 21. At the Cass County College & Career Expo, students are invited to visit the Ivy Tech Photo Booth and share their photos. When 25 students have done so, First Farmers Bank & Trust will donate $1,000 to the cause. And, in honor of the number of its union local, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 873 is pledging $1,000 at three points in the fundraiser – when $8,000 has been raised, when an additional $7,000 has been raised, and when an additional $3,000 has been raised.
“We are so grateful for the creative and fun ways people choose to support this worthwhile cause,” Karickhoff said. “‘One Day Can Mean Everything’ for the success of Ivy Tech students.”