UMGC Veterans
Assistance Fund
Fund Run

Registration Opens Week of Sept. 21
 

Break Out Your Runnin' (or Walking) Shoes!

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) invites students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends to enter the 2026 UMGC Virtual FUNd Run, a friendly competition that engages our global community and raises funds for veteran students who need “just in time” support to continue their studies.

When: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 12 a.m. ET–Sunday, November 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET

Location: Anywhere

Entry Fee: $35 per participant

About the Run

The UMGC Virtual FUNd Run is a global, weeklong event where participants walk or run to raise money for the Veterans Assistance Fund (VAF), a special program that helps eligible UMGC student veterans cover education costs when federal aid or VA benefits run out.   

Whether you’re going solo or forming a team, your mission is simple: log as many miles as you can from October 29th - November 1st. Top individual and team finishers will earn bragging rights and have their names added to a plaque displayed in the Stateside Veterans Lounge at Dorsey Station. 

Learn more about our daily challenges on the Participant Resources page. Share the fun with your friends, family, and fellow participants using #UMGCFUNdRun!

POST Event: Beginning Monday November 2nd use the Results form to submit your total mileage. To be considered for “Top Participant” or “Top Team”, enter your results by 11:59 p.m. ET, Friday, November 6, 2026. 

Last year: Together, we raised $7,545 for the Veterans Assistance Fund! Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you at the starting line again next year!

A Message From UMGC President, Gregory W. Fowler, PhD

Join us!

Each year, our global community comes together for the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) Virtual FUNd Run. Proceeds support the Veterans Assistance Fund, a unique scholarship program that provides grants to student veterans.  

This is a wonderful way to honor our tradition of joining together to “go the distance” for veteran and military learners and their dependents, while at the same time having fun, getting some exercise, building community, and advancing our public mission. 

Join us Thursday October 29 - Sunday November 2 from wherever you are in the world and however you choose to participate.  

Together, we can inspire hope, empower dreams, and transform lives … one student at a time! 

About the Veterans Assistance Fund

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) Veterans Assistance Fund (VAF) is designed to help student veterans, who are enrolled at UMGC, cover education expenses when federal financial aid and VA benefits are unavailable or exhausted. The fund is available to qualified students experiencing financial hardship and can be used to offset costs related to tuition, degree completion, or transition to civilian life. As of July 2026, the Veterans Assistance Fund has supported 139 student veterans with more than $240,500 in grant-based assistance, keeping recipients on track for graduation.

Congratulations to our UMGC FUNd RUN 2025 HONOREES!

  • Top Individual: Jennifer Weist - With 60 miles!
  • Winning Team: Women Are Vets 2 - This three-person powerhouse averaged 33.85 miles.
  • Largest Team: SEA Turtles - With 21 participants.
  • Most Miles (Team): SEA Turtles - With 488.96 miles!

UMGC Students on the Veterans Assistance Fund

Thank you, again, for everything. This has renewed my determination to study even harder and to live my life doing work that helps make the world a better place.

- K.Y.

See Last Year's Results