BYU's Choose to Give organization, one of the most successful giving campaigns in the nation, hopes to get 10,000 students to donate to their cause this year.

Last year 9,000 students donated money in the student-created and student-run fundraising campaign. The annual week-long campaign hosts free dances, concerts and a barbecue to give students the opportunity to give back to the university.

"Most universities don't have a student giving campaign," said Choose to Give Chairman Russell Thacker, a student from Centerville majoring in international relations. "A higher percentage of students give at BYU because of the emphasis placed on giving here."

The organization encourages students to donate to help them develop a habit of service and generosity.

"A member of the Presidential Leadership Council said that if you don't give when you have a little you wont give when you have a lot," Thacker said.

All of the money raised will be given back to students through three Funds: the Scholarship Fund which supports six students in needs-based scholarships, the College Annual Fund which supports study abroad and mentored learning programs and the President's Fund which is given to President Samuelson to use as he sees fit.

Money is also used to purchase better lab equipment.

The BYU Annual Fund and LDS Philanthropies support the program.

"These organizations cover all overhead costs [such as this week's free t-shirts, BBQ and dances] so that 100 percent of student raised money goes to BYU," Thacker said.

As opposed to other years, this year the money donated is not going to be matched by an outside donor couple. Thus, committee members stress the importance of student donations this year.

"Each donation is more important now," said committee member Nathan Zacharias, a student from Manteca, Calif. majoring in chemical engineering.

Though the program officially began in 2000, Choose to Give committee members say that its roots go back much further.

Thacker said he was searching through old BYU news and found documents from 1911, which described what he believes is the first documented student fund raising event. Students raised money to build the Maeser Building.

"BYU was financially strapped then and couldn't build the building," Thacker said. "The student's efforts started a tradition of giving that resonates with students today."

Bethany Dickerson, a 23-year-old student from Ind. majoring in visual arts says that she donates to BYU because of her excellent experience at the university.

"I don't have much to give but if everyone gives a little bit we will raise a lot of money," Dickerson said.

Other students like Wyatt Felt, a freshman from Mapleton, don't anticipate giving to the university.

"Some day when I have a lot of money I'll donate but I don't know, maybe the time is now," Felt said.

Professors are encouraging students to show responsibility at BYU through donating to the university.

"I usually give [textbook] royalty money back in the form of a pizza party but this seemed to be the kind of short-term thinking that I make fun of in class," said Wade Jacoby, political science professor.

Last year Jacoby divided his textbook royalties among his students, giving about a dollar to each of them along with a donation envelope. He left the decision to donate or not to donate up to them.

"It is not that people aren't grateful; it is just that giving something back gets stuck on the end of their list of things to do," Jacoby said. "This is a chance to move it up on the list and is more long-term than investing in Little Ceasar's."

Choose to Give week will be kicked off with a free barbecue at noon today in Brigham Square. Students can visit Choose to Give's Web site, c2g.byu.edu, for a list of free events and information on how to make a donation.