Fourth Annual Waves Give Campaign Raises Record-Breaking Support for Pepperdine Arts and Athletics Programs
Pepperdine’s fourth annual Waves Give Day—an exciting 24-hour fundraising campaign—broke previous records by raising an impressive $810,996, well beyond this year’s original goal of $600,000. Held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the event brought together students, parents, alumni, and friends of the University to support Pepperdine’s arts programs and Waves Athletics, with funds helping to provide students with access to essential resources and transformative opportunities, both on the stage and the field.
“Waves Give was an incredible success this year and truly showcased the generosity and spirit of the Pepperdine community,” said Liam Iadicicco, director of annual giving for University Advancement. “It’s not just about raising funds but encouraging support around our student-athletes and artists who spend such a significant amount of their time rallying for our community.”
Waves Athletics received an overwhelming amount of support and raised $760,996, surpassing their original goal of $550,000. Pepperdine’s arts programs met their $50,000 target for programs such as the Friends of Theatre, Friends of Music, and Choir. Waves Athletics also offered a number of matching donation challenges that were not only met but exceeded, including those supporting men’s and women’s cross country and track, men’s water polo, women’s swim and dive, women’s tennis, women’s golf, women’s soccer, and women’s beach volleyball, as well as the Athletic Director’s Excellence Fund.
Waves Give donation table
“Achieving—and surpassing—our goals means more resources to help students thrive, whether that’s new equipment for our teams or enhanced performance opportunities for our arts programs,” shared Iadicicco. “We’re so grateful to everyone who contributed and made this celebration of giving possible. I'm always amazed at what this community can accomplish together.”
Gabby Montejo, a current Seaver College student and theatre major, has experienced firsthand the transformative impact of the Waves Give initiative. Thanks to the generosity of donors supporting the Friends of the Theatre, Montejo was able to travel to the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland—an opportunity that enriched her academic and artistic journey. She has also taken part in multiple master classes funded by these contributions, which have further expanded her professional development.
“Having these contributions helped round out my college experience as a theatre major,” shared Montejo. “It enabled me to explore the different aspects of being creative while also allowing me to engage and bond with my peers in the theatre department.”
In addition to her studies, Montejo serves as a student lead and house manager for the Center for the Arts, which gives her a unique perspective of how donor support elevates the overall art student experience at Pepperdine.
“Whether it's donating money directly or buying a ticket to see one of our shows, this support is incredibly beneficial,” explained Montejo. “I believe the theatre is a magical place that transforms its patrons—both the theatre makers and audiences alike. Performers have the unique ability to feed off of each other's energy during live productions, and the more an audience invests in our performance the more it fuels our passion and creative drive.”
Learn more about this annual campaign on the Waves Give website.