VIDEO: Giving Hearts Day co-founder Pat Traynor tells how it all began

A self-described ‘lawyer in recovery’ who still ‘uses his law degree every day,’ Traynor talks about his work in nonprofits and with Giving Hearts Day

Editor’s note: Beyond the Pages is a virtual conversation series that convenes University of North Dakota alumni from a variety of fields. The series is produced by the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, and features in-depth interviews with some of the changemakers who’ve been featured in the UND Alumni Magazine.

This episode of Beyond the Pages features Pat Traynor, a 1988 graduate of UND and a 1991 graduate of the UND School of Law. Traynor is the executive director of the Dakota Medical Foundation and Impact Foundation in Fargo. As such, he’s been a driving force behind Giving Hearts Day, an annual fundraising event for 500 charities in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.

Since Giving Hearts Day’s inception in 2008, donors have given more than $112 million through the event.

Giving Hearts Day will be held this year on Thursday, Feb. 10. A recent story in UND Today has more details and information.

Watch this episode of Beyond the Pages to find out how the Dakota Medical Foundation came up with Giving Hearts Day and what’s expected from this year’s event.