For the past five years, Ringling College students, alumni, volunteers, faculty, and staff have taken time in November to handwrite notes expressing their gratitude to the College’s many donors. In previous years, this celebratory day of thanks typically takes place in the Roskamp auditorium, buzzing with all members of the College community as they write thank-you cards and film video messages. This year, November 2020, the fifth annual Give Thanks Day looked a little different – but feelings of thanks were still the same. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety guidelines limited the gathering of many people indoors, in one space at one time. But as has been the College’s motto all year, “at Ringling College, we will always find a creative solution!” And we did.

For the 2020 Ringling College Gives Thanks Day, the celebration was spread across an entire week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, November 17 and 18, 2020, students, faculty, and staff stopped by the marquee sheltering Scott Plaza to pick up their thank-you note(s) between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. They had a few days to fully express their sentiments of gratitude and then dropped them back off on Friday, November 20. As they have in years past, the Office for Advancement provided an exclusive Give Thanks T-shirt, as well as a delicious lunch to all those who participated. 

The success of the event is evident as the sentiment continues to grow year after year. Students often personalize their notes by sharing their own stories, or adding fun illustrations, characters, and even self-portraits. 

Donors regularly express that building relationships with the students, and being able to share in their success, helps them to fully understand how their giving makes a difference to the students and to the College. Ringling College donors help to fund scholarships, state-of-the-art technology and facilities, the Sarasota Art Museum, programs and services, and so much more. We are so grateful for their tremendous support.

THANK YOU for participating in our Ringling College Gives Thanks Day!