Joseph Abrams ’23

Editor in Chief

A bouncy house in Kimball, a photo booth in Hogan, and a Pub Night courtesy of Wormtown Brewery were probably not on your 2023 bingo card, but weren’t they great? All of these activities were instrumental in this year’s Power of Purple Giving Day, Holy Cross’s own annual day for giving back. This year’s change of date made incorporating Valentine’s Day activities possible and engaging (the stickers on campus coffee cups were a nice touch), and the Holy Cross Fund pulled out all the stops to encourage those on and off The Hill to participate. It’s no surprise, then, that Holy Cross’ loyal pool of donors rose to the occasion. From every state in our country to every class year since 1950, more than 4,500 students, alumni, current and past parents, faculty & staff and Holy Cross friendss alike came out to #GivePurple.

Students who made their rounds through the many booths and activities planned throughout the day were quick to show support for the community they still inhabit. The photo booth at Hogan, which you may have seen pop up on your social media feeds if you didn’t catch it in person, was a big hit, but the chicken parm and bouncy house combo made Kimball this year’s biggest attraction. The spirit of Valentine’s Day and love for Holy Cross was evident across campus  – complete with Holy Cross-themed valentines, chocolate roses and conversation hearts!The Class of ‘23, whose graduation is only months away, actively participated in the day! Current seniors were blessed with numerous avenues for donation – as a contribution towards the Senior Class Gift, as a donation to enter the prestigious President’s Council, or simply as a sign of gratitude for their experience at the College. Seniors were also given the opportunity to donate, celebrate their generosity, or win a number of prizes over a pint of Wormtown Brewery beer, a local brewery who visited Hogan’s pub to explain and serve their product. 

The on-campus community certainly showed up and celebrated the day! We anticipate our readers are interested in seeing the official stats from the day. They are being tabulated and summarized as we write this article, and we will share them in our next edition – when you return from your spring break!