Waves Raise Record-Breaking Community Support During Pepperdine Gives 2025
Pepperdine Gives, an annual giving day held this year on October 1, 2025, raised more than $1.9 million over a 24-hour period, exceeding last year’s record of $1,625,588. Established in 2017, this annual tradition unites the University community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Pepperdine around the world to support students as they are equipped for lives of purpose, service, and leadership through over 280 opportunities and initiatives.
Waves are encouraged to join together by giving to areas of their passion, motivated this year by president Jim Gash’s (JD ’93) annual theme “Purpose.” Notable gift highlights included a total of 255 donors contributing $153,232 for Pepperdine Athletics, and $570,850 directed to the Mountain at Mullin Park, the forthcoming campus recreation and event center, which will elevate the student experience and actively advance the University's commitment to growing an authentic community.
Students at Pepperdine Gives 2025
“Pepperdine Gives once again revealed the incredible heart of our community,” President Gash said. “Each gift—no matter the amount—reflects a shared commitment to shaping students who live with purpose, serve with compassion, and lead with integrity. The generosity we witnessed this year strengthens every corner of our University and ensures that the next generation of Waves will be equipped for lives of greater purpose.”
Liam Iadicicco (’17), Pepperdine’s director of annual giving, shared his enthusiasm over the remarkable community effort, which will advance various University priorities. “Pepperdine Gives is a beautiful snapshot of our community at its best. In one day, Waves from every corner of the world and across all our schools rallied to invest in students—powering scholarships and initiatives while strengthening the many experiences that students enjoy.” Iadicicco adds, “We’re grateful for every single gift and proud of what we accomplished together.”
Several time-bound matches helped accelerate giving, including an anonymous match that amplified gifts to the Mountain throughout the day. In addition, more than 560 first-time donors contributed nearly $60,000, and more than $123,000 was raised for student scholarships.
Student volunteers, such as current Seaver College senior Chantal Mbayah, voiced appreciation for being able to directly support causes that have shaped their Pepperdine experiences. As an international student from Kenya, Mbayah shares her hope that domestic students can enjoy similar cross-cultural experiences and global exploration through Pepperdine’s International Programs, which raised a total of $41,110 this year.
“I think Pepperdine provides students with an unparalleled opportunity to experience and interact with different cultures during their studies,” says Mbayah. “The funds we received from this year’s Pepperdine Gives will help further those opportunities such as continuing to support facilities at the Château d'Hauteville. Personally I feel that those programs give students a home away from home.”
Elen Akopyan, Seaver student and Engagement Center representative on campus, shares, “We are here to make Pepperdine a better place, whether through contributing to impactful programs or connecting to building the Mountain. What’s great about Pepperdine Gives is how niche it is to every person’s experience here. Every year I look forward to seeing our alumni and broader community return to express their love for Pepperdine through giving back.”