‘Gift Fairy’ joins UConn foundation

Both Santasiere and Sponaeur agree that the success behind the video is driven by it being an entirely student-run venture.

"The fact that the video was conceived and created by students really sets it apart," Santasiere said.

While the Foundation is still reviewing the success of the video, they are enthusiastic about taking the idea further.

"We hope to continue our partnership with UConn's Digital Media Program to help raise awareness of the need for fundraising for UConn's many schools, colleges programs and activities," Santasiere said.

The students enjoyed the project for its own sake, too.

For executive producer Grace Alpert, it meant putting the finishing touch on her last semester in the dramatic arts program.

"As an aspiring producer, I had never actually worked on a film in this capacity," she said. "It was an amazing opportunity that I could not pass up on."

By the end of filming, enthusiasm for the project had grown so high that an over-zealous extra lost his pants in the grand thank you scene atop the library roof.

"He was jumping up and down, and so excited that his pants fell down," Anderson said.

The success of the video also marks the beginning of a new digital media era for UConn – a venture all of the creators of "Gift Fairy" are deeply involved in.

"It's beginning," McGlaughlin said.