U Make A Difference Event
March 24, 2026 | 11am – 2pm
A. Ray Olpin Student Union (West Sidewalk)
We’re excited to celebrate Pepsi for once again powering U Giving Days with extraordinary generosity and school spirit. This year, Pepsi has contributed $25,000 in support, along with a supply of refreshing Pepsi products to keep students and volunteers energized as they learn and serve across campus.
Come celebrate with:
- Food
- Dirty Sodas
- Photobooth
- Swag
Pepsi Endless Impact Series
This U Giving Days, Pepsi is continuing the much‑loved “Pepsi U Make a Difference” event — an exciting event experience where attendees can grab a U Giving Days-themed dirty soda, food, and awesome swag while they learn about the importance of philanthropy at the U. Thanks to Pepsi, students can also step inside a Mountain Dew–themed cash‑grab machine filled with Pepsi‑provided funds. Students can collect money and direct it to any U Giving Days area they care about, giving them a hands‑on opportunity to learn about philanthropy and immediately make an impact.
New this year, Pepsi is sponsoring the Pepsi Acts of Service projects. We have five different service projects that tie into each of the five causes that are highlighted on U Giving Days, as well as an additional gratitude project. Pepsi will be supporting the students with Pepsi products, funds for the projects, and opportunities for students to make a difference. Check out the various U Giving Days x Pepsi Acts of Service projects.
Show Up Focused
Success begins with the right support, and the Academics × Alani Nu partnership brings that idea to life. On U Giving Days, this initiative highlights how academic achievement is built through access to resources like tutoring, mentoring, and student‑centered academic programs — all areas strengthened through community giving. Thanks to Pepsi, the Graduate and Professional Student Council will host the “Investing in U” workshop in Gardner Commons, a session designed to equip students with strategies for academic success, financial well‑being, and long‑term professional development. Open to all but tailored especially for graduate students, the workshop addresses the unique challenges they face as they navigate advanced study and prepare for the next steps in their careers. To keep attendees energized and ready to learn, Alani Nu will provide its clean, vibrant flavor — the perfect lift for students investing in their future. With Pepsi’s support, each workshop, each resource, and each contribution helps students show up focused and prepared, strengthening academic success one skill, one moment, and one refreshed learner at a time.
Fuel What Moves Us
The Athletics × Gatorade partnership highlights how performance — on and off the field — is powered by the right support. For U Giving Days 2026, student ambassadors will join forces with Gatorade to clean and refresh the softball field and stands, revitalizing a space that drives movement, teamwork, and competitive spirit. As volunteers work to make this space ready for the next game, Gatorade will provide the fuel, hydration, and recovery support needed to power every step of the hands‑on work. With support from Pepsi, ambassadors are creating meaningful, lasting impact — strengthening the spaces that move students forward, one field, one act of service, and one energized volunteer at a time.
Brighten Someone’s Day
The Community × Starry partnership brings brightness, energy, and connection to U Giving Days. This initiative highlights how small acts of care can spark meaningful community impact. Thanks to Pepsi, Bennion Center student leaders and Starry will host a high‑impact snack‑pack assembly line, preparing snack packs for K–12 students in the Granite School District. With its bright, refreshing flavor, Starry will keep volunteers energized and smiling, creating an atmosphere of inclusivity and joy that mirrors the purpose of the project. Each snack pack becomes a moment of kindness, and each sip of Starry fuels the momentum behind it. With Pepsi’s support, ambassadors are spreading nourishment, positivity, and connection one pack, one moment, and one refreshed volunteer at a time.
Meeting Basic Needs Starts with Basics
Meeting basic needs is the foundation of student success, and Aquafina is proud to support that mission through a partnership focused on stability, access, and essential care. This year the Delta Gamma sorority will gather at the Basic Needs Collective to assemble essential hygiene kits that directly support University of Utah students facing resource insecurity. Each kit is a tangible reminder that no student should have to navigate their academic journey without the basic necessities that sustain health, dignity, and success.
To keep volunteers refreshed and ready to make an impact, Aquafina will be on hand with its clean, crisp hydration — the perfect companion for a service activity rooted in care and community. Each assembled kit becomes a meaningful gesture of support, and each sip of Aquafina helps fuel the volunteers who bring the project to life.
With backing from Pepsi, student leaders are strengthening the fabric of campus support one kit, one act of service, and one refreshed volunteer at a time.
Refresh Wellness, One Smile at a Time
Wellness starts with everyday habits, and the Health Care × Poppi partnership brings this idea to life through the synergy concept of small habits making a big impact. This initiative highlights how access, prevention, and long‑term health resources strengthen the well‑being of the University of Utah community — supported through donations that uplift health education and related initiatives. Thanks to Pepsi, student groups from the School of Dentistry — including the American Student Dental Association and the Student Executive Committee — will provide free dental screenings at the Marriott Library Plaza, offering students essential preventive care paired with complimentary dental hygiene kits to support lasting oral health. To keep the momentum high, Poppi will be on site with its crisp, uplifting flavor, a fitting refreshment for a day centered on wellness, balance, and proactive healthy habits. With Pepsi’s support, each screening, each hygiene kit, and each contribution creates a ripple of positive impact across campus, promoting confidence, prevention, and community care — one smile, one moment, and one refreshed volunteer at a time.
Thank you Pepsi!
