#GivingTuesday is the Worldwide Donation Day that started in the US and is now worldwide, including in Austria. Fulbright Austria joined this excellent initiative of giving and doing good deeds in 2017 and combined it with the traditional celebrations of Thanksgiving under the umbrella of Thank Fulbright – Thanksgiving. This year marks our fourth annual Thank Fulbright – Thanksgiving and is a special year: it marks our first virtual event for Thanksgiving.
In light of COVID-19, this year required us to transform the traditional in-person event and Thanksgiving dinner into a virtual event, where 2020 Austrian-American Educational Commission board members and honorary co-chairs of the Austrian-American Educational Commission Board shared special messages with the Fulbright Austria community.
Like last year, alums and current program participants joined us this year as part of the event program! We would like to thank former US teaching assistant Erin Marks and current US teaching assistant Stephanie DePrez for sharing their wonderful talent with the community, which enhanced this special occasion.
Minster Faßmann surprised and delighted the community when he announced that as in 2017, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research will again provide Fulbright Austria with matching funds in the amount of EUR 150,000 to double third-party donations received in Austria. Each gift will have a greater impact, as those donations are matched 1:1!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving and Giving Tuesday, donations still remained an important part of the event. To date, we are happy to announce that the Fulbright Austria community has collectively donated over €8,500—donations that will support future Fulbrighters. We would like to express our gratitude and thankfulness to the more than 60 community members who donated and shared their talent to make this year a particularly memorable Thank Fulbright – Thanksgiving. If you haven’t yet donated and would like to, please use the donate button found under the video below.