The Alumni Club of Brazil is the recipient of The Ohio State University Alumni Association’s 2025 Outstanding Program Award for its scholarship fundraiser. The award recognizes an alumni club or society for an event, initiative or program that demonstrates creativity, impact and alignment with Ohio State’s values.
“The club is committed to strengthening the Buckeye community in Brazil through events and collaboration, and the scholarship fundraiser has become a cornerstone of that mission,” said Jane K. Aparecido, senior director of Ohio State’s Brazil Gateway. “What began as a bold idea has grown into a high-impact, community-driven initiative, now in its second successful year.”
Fundraising is not a common practice in Brazilian culture, especially among alumni groups, which remain rare. The club faced the challenge of not only launching a campaign but also educating and convincing alumni of its legitimacy and purpose. Building trust required consistent outreach, relationship-building and storytelling.
To ensure transparency, the club published a 2024 Fundraiser Report detailing how funds were used and highlighting the stories of award recipients. This accountability reinforced the campaign’s credibility and celebrated its impact.
The first campaign exceeded expectations, raising 145% of its goal with support from about a dozen donors. That generosity provided financial assistance to seven individuals pursuing opportunities at Ohio State, including covering application fees, short-term program registration in agriculture and law and programs for high school students.
Building on that success, the club launched a second campaign this year, which also reached its goal. For the first time, donors received exclusive Ohio State giveaways, demonstrating the club’s growth in stewardship and engagement.
“The scholarship campaign has become more than a fundraiser,” Aparecido said. “It is a movement that connects alumni, opens doors and builds a culture of giving. It reflects the creativity, impact and collaboration that define the Buckeye community and has the potential to inspire other international clubs to follow.”
The Alumni Club of Brazil was recognized at the annual Alumni Awards ceremony on September 12 at the Longaberger Alumni House.