ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app

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ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Launches “Pick the Pairâ€� Campaign Ahead of The ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Challenge Giving Day

February 2, 2026


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MACOMB, IL — ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Illinois University is launching Pick the Pair, a new donor engagement campaign designed to build excitement and community participation leading into The ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Challenge Day of Giving on Friday, April 24.

The interactive campaign invites donors and supporters to vote for their favorite ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app sock designs by making gifts of $5 or more. Each contribution serves as a vote in a bracket-style competition featuring eight original sock designs. Designs advance based on total dollars raised, with the final winning design announced in March.

"Every vote supports the ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Founders Scholarship, providing critical support to students with financial need who are just one to three semesters from graduation, helping them finish strong and earn their degree," ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Director of Annual Giving, Tim Hallinan said.

The winning sock design will become the official Giving Day sock and will be distributed to donors who contribute $75 or more during The ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Challenge Day of Giving on April 24. Funds raised through the campaign will support a designated area of impact at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app.

Pick the Pair is designed to make participation in giving fun, accessible and meaningful while allowing donors to play an active role in shaping one of the ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Challenge's most popular traditions.

Campaign Timeline
Round 1: February 1–14


Round 2: February 15–28


Final Round: March 1–14


Winning design announced: March


Participants in Pick the Pair will also be invited to continue their impact on April 24 during The ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Challenge Day of Giving, when donors who give $75 or more will receive the winning sock design.

For more information, visit .

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing