---
title: Crypto for a Cause
date: 2022-04-29T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/crypto-for-a-cause"
section: Articles
---
# Crypto for a Cause

*April 29, 2022* — by [Annie Krakower](/author/annie-krakower)


> Twin Alums Make UMD’s First Major Cryptocurrency Gift to Support Lacrosse Student-Athletes, African American Studies and Dingman Center

*Bitcoingift — Alums Thomas and Harry Alford established the Kay DeBow Alford and Harry Alford, Jr. Endowed Scholarship for Men’s Lacrosse through a $50,000 contribution in bitcoin, the first major cryptocurrency gift to UMD.*

For Thomas ’07 and Harry Alford ’08, the University of Maryland fostered a sense of community both on the lacrosse field, where they won two ACC championships, and in the classroom, where they delved into their heritage in African American studies courses. Now, the twins are helping others experience that brotherhood by paying it forward—in a fearlessly modern way.

This month, the Alfords established the Kay DeBow Alford and Harry Alford, Jr. Endowed Scholarship for Men’s Lacrosse through a $50,000 contribution in bitcoin, the first major cryptocurrency gift to UMD. The commitment, made through the University of Maryland College Park Foundation and named in honor of the brothers’ late parents, will support men’s lacrosse student-athletes from underrepresented backgrounds.

In addition, the[ Giving Block](https://thegivingblock.com/), a company that accepts and converts crypto donations into dollars for nonprofit organizations like UMD, matched the Alfords’ gift, providing $25,000 for the Alford Family Current-Use Scholarship in honor of Val Skeeter, who served as the director of administrative services in the Department of African American Studies for 25 years, and another $25,000 for the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship to provide seed funding to student founders.


*Harry Alford headshot*


*Thomas Alford headshot*



**Sidebar note:**

Interested in donating cryptocurrency to UMD? Visit[ giftplanning.umd.edu/cryptocurrency](https://giftplanning.umd.edu/cryptocurrency).





**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [African American Studies](https://today.umd.edu/topic/african-american-studies), [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni), [Men's Lacrosse](https://today.umd.edu/topic/mens-lacrosse), [Philanthropy](https://today.umd.edu/topic/philanthropy)


**Units:** [College of Behavioral and Social Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-behavioral-and-social-sciences), [Department of Intercollegiate Athletics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/department-intercollegiate-athletics), [Division of University Relations](https://today.umd.edu/topic/division-university-relations), [Robert H. Smith School of Business](https://today.umd.edu/topic/robert-h-smith-school-business)