When is Fill the Hill this year?
The 2024 Fill the Hill dates are Oct. 24-25.
Great! But what exactly is Fill the Hill?
Fill the Hill is a philanthropic event that raises crucial funds for UW–Madison and its many individual units, like us at the College of Letters & Science. To showcase the wide-reaching impact of this campaign, we fill Bascom Hill with bright pink plastic flamingos. Each flamingo on the hill represents a gift that was made during the fundraising event. And the money raised during the campaign supports life-changing experiences for current and future Badgers.
But why flamingos?
Well, that’s an interesting story and one that could only happen in Madison. It was the start of the 1979-80 school year, and pranksters from the Pail and Shovel Party student government organization had a funny idea to welcome new students to campus. They lined Bascom Hill with 1,008 pink flamingos. Why that many? Because the flamingos only came in packs of 12. The prank is widely regarded as one of campus’ greatest.
Cool! Can I get a flamingo of my own?
Yes! If you donate $350 or more during Fill the Hill, you’ll get a collectible lawn flamingo and other Fill the Hill goodies sent to your home.
How can I give directly to the College of Letters & Science?
You can give a gift directly to the College of Letters & Science Annual Fund here. Your gift is not just a donation, it’s a ripple effect of positive change. It fuels opportunities for students, resources for research and support for the College to continue providing a world-class liberal arts education. And with every student who flourishes, their impact ripples outward, shaping the world for the better.
Beyond giving, are there other ways to join in on the flamingo fun?
Swing by Bascom Hill to see the flock in person or, if you’re not on campus, follow along on the virtual hill and our Instagram. Plus, the UW Foundation is hosting fun events like fishing for fountain flamingos and a fluffy flamingo scavenger hunt. More information is available on the Fill the Hill website.