Volunteer Summit 2026

On October 2, the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center opened its doors to the Volunteer Summit: Forward Together–a first of its kind summit at UMD. Members of more than fifty boards attended, including the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees, the Alumni Association Board of Governors, the Board of Visitors, academic, affinity and regional alumni networks and more.

University Relations Vice President Jim Harris kicked off the summit with a summary of FY26–an exceptional year for fundraising and volunteer engagement. We raised more than $302.05 million, increased our donor count by 5.7% and engaged more than 2,315 volunteers–our highest number yet. 

Marlene Feldman '75, University of Maryland College Park Foundation board chair, moderated a fireside chat with Provost Jennifer King Rice and President Darryll J. Pines. During the discussion, Provost Rice emphasized the mission of a flagship university is to positively affect the lives of every person of the state. The Fearlessly Forward Strategic plan was designed to do that by ensuring our faculty work on the most pressing problems to make real progress for real people. The Forward campaign is catalyzing these efforts. 

The topics of the fireside chat between Provost Rice, President Pines and UMCPF Board Chair Marlene Feldman '75 included the Forward campaign’s three themes: Tomorrow’s Trailblazers, Bold and Brave Solutions and Stronger Communities.

Attendees took part in several activations throughout the day to win tickets they could redeem at the Forward Shop. They looked for Forward campaign-themed words in a word search, scanned an artist’s rendering of campus to answer “Where’s Testudo?” and moved “FORE-ward” by attempting to hit a hole-in-one. 

Building relationships and sustaining connection were themes that came up in the breakout session “Volunteerism Moves Us Forward.” The session was moderated by Jennifer St. John, and panelists including Paul Mandell '95, Gabriela Winter '22 and Bert Williams '96. 

While sharing their experiences of giving back, the speakers also discussed the significant value they contributed–and derived–from staying involved with the university. A particular point of pride was their ability to help Terps and honorary Terps in their networks see their passions fulfilled through engagement with UMD.

In the breakout session moderated by Michelle Milkovich, “More than a Scholarship: A Conversation on Impact,” panelists discussed the Maryland Promise Program from the point of view of two students and one donor. Student panelists Kelly Perez Velasquez '28 and Ava Strawther '28 expressed gratitude for the financial and programmatic support from MPP that allowed them to focus on their academics and have a well-rounded college experience. As a scholarship recipient himself, donor and volunteer Al Carey ’74 discussed the importance of paying forward the support he received.

Using tickets provided at registration and won in activations, attendees could shop for campaign swag ranging from pens to bluetooth speakers to baseball caps at the Forward Shop. Everyone left with a piece of Forward to take with them to start a conversation about what the campaign is and how to help.

Testudo stopped by to cheer on the volunteers as they readied to take the messages of the Forward campaign with them into the world. Through volunteerism, anyone can help move Maryland Forward. And we need everyone’s help to reach our goal.