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Salem State University’s ninth annual Viking Warrior Day proved to be another strong showing of Viking pride and generosity, with alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends rallying together to exceed expectations for donor participation. The momentum was reflected on campus as well, where students came together for Viking Warrior Field Day featuring games, entertainment and food trucks.
Overall, the day brought in 769 donors highlighting broad engagement across the Salem State community, raising a total of $184,030 before midnight on April 29.
Among the standout efforts, the men’s soccer team finished among the top five fundraising groups for the day. After setting an initial goal of $10,000, the team surpassed it by raising an impressive $12,000 in support of their program.
This year’s effort also saw notable participation from recent alumni. The top five self-identified giving classes all came from the 2020s, highlighting the growing engagement of Salem State’s newest graduates. Current students made a significant impact as well, contributing 64 gifts, underscoring a growing culture of philanthropy on campus.
Viking Warrior Day 2026 was further strengthened by the support of numerous challenge and match donors, whose contributions helped amplify the impact of each gift and inspire broader participation throughout the Salem State community:
- Mark Amirault ’84, Early Bird Challenge
- Anonymous, Community Band at SSU and Go BOLD! Match
- Nate ’87, ’93G and Joy ’85 Bryant, Nate Bryant and Family Student Emergency Fund Match
- Dembowski family, Theatre Department Match
- Anonymous, Ellison family, George H. Ellison, Sr. Scholarship Fund Challenge
- Paul Frost, parent, and Mike Mitchell ’07, Softball Match
- Kim Gassett-Schiller '83, ’18H and Philip Schiller, Accounting Challenge, HSI Fund Match, Annual Fund Unrestricted Match, International Student Challenge, Sullivan Society Match, Student Emergency Fund Match, Student Food Pantry Match, Berry Institute of Politics Match
- Gail Griffin ’78, CAAR Match
- Martha Kuklinski ’73, Math Learning Center Challenge
- Associate Dean Beth Massaro, School of Social Work Challenge
- John Pastore ’94, Athletics Team Challenge
- Professor Stephen Young, Geography and Sustainability Department Match
Reflecting on another successful day of giving, the impact of Viking Warrior Day highlights a vibrant and committed network of Vikings dedicated to supporting student success and the growth of Salem State.
Learn more at givingday.salemstate.edu.