On a warm, early September day, Yale students kicked off the new academic year with popsicles, puppies, plants, and prizes through Eli Days, an annual tradition organized by the Yale Alumni Fund to celebrate the impact of alumni philanthropy.
With interactive trivia games, a thank-you note writing station, and more, the field day on cross campus offered students a chance to reflect on the resources and opportunities made possible through alumni support. Participants also got to take home an ivy houseplant, pet Yale dogs Handsome Dan and Heidi, and enjoy end-of-summer popsicles.
“It’s nice to see everyone’s smiling faces,” said Iniye Atiegha SM ’27, who joined the Yale Alumni Fund Student Ambassadors (YAFSA) last year. “It’s great to be building on the energy of the start of the school year while also giving people a little break from all of the chaos that comes with the return to campus.”
Atiegha first connected with the Alumni Fund at Eli Days festivities in her first year on campus and said it was a great way to meet new friends and just have fun. This year, she said she was looking forward to stopping by the thank-you note booth.
“I know that for me, receiving a handwritten message feels so special,” Atiegha said. “It’s really touching to see that someone took time out of their day just to write to you, so I hope the donors feel that gratitude.”
For Lorena Rivera PC ’29, writing a thank-you letter was a meaningful way to acknowledge those who supported her Yale journey.
“I wouldn’t be here without financial aid, so it felt nice to thank the people who made that possible,” Rivera said.
Writing thank-you notes or recording video messages got students a stamp in their Eli Days passport. Collecting four stamps—also available through trivia, Jeopardy, or creating a Yale Alumni Fund button—earned participants a Handsome Dan tote bag.
Campbell Cartes MC ’29 earned one of her stamps by testing her Yale know-how at the Boola Boola Jeopardy booth. The first-year won a point for her team by correctly answering the name of the beloved museum that recently underwent a major donor-funded renovation.
“I knew about the Peabody before coming to Yale, and it was a real draw for me,” Cartes said. “It’s fantastic to be at a school with so many well-supported museums, and I think it really enriches the school to have such diverse resources for learning.”
Another opportunity to test their fundraising trivia knowledge was during the Yale Alumni Fund Bowl Classic, where students were challenged to correctly rank areas of support based on the amount of donations they received in the last fiscal year.
“I knew that in general, donors do a lot for the university, but this was a cool way to learn more about what specific areas they support,” said Olivia Allen MY ’29. “It’s really nice to see the different ways alumni continue to give back to the Yale community even after they leave campus.”