Seniors continue to raise money for gift
By Aleta Cox
Though graduating seniors may be financially stretched thin, they still face the task of raising more money for the Senior Gift, which an event at Miller Farm set out to do last Friday, April 16.
The Senior Gift Committee (SGC) co-sponsored the event, with the Bike Co-Op, the Earlham Environmental Action Coalition and the Environmental Responsibility Committee teaming up to hold the potluck/ fundraising event this year, once again at Miller Farm, due to its popularity last year, as well as its applicability to the cause.
The event featured a potluck beginning at 5:30 p.m., with bands The Funkaholics, Mermaid on a Mountain Top, and Caw! Caw! playing shows beginning at 7 p.m. Displays were set up by SGC and some of the cosponsors of the event, showcasing information on sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The farm hosted around 65- 70 students, despite the weather being cold and windy that day. With a matching gift from Joe Lopez in the Admissions Office, the fundraising event collected a total of $106.
“We decided to set our goal this year at $8,500 and a total of 40 percent class participation. So far, we have raised a total of $7094.18 with 22 percent class participation,” said Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Mae Turley, SGC’s advisor.
Last year’s class donation “totaled $10,413.71 and 52% of the class participated,” according to the Senior Gift Web site.
The college established SGC to assist the Office of Institutional Advancement by serving as liaisons between the college and members of the senior class. Members of the committee are engaged in activities that encourage classmates to give back and help current students develop a better understanding of the institutional and financial needs of Earlham.
Members of the Senior Gift Committee help the college in securing gifts from their classmates to support a gift effort, as selected and voted on by the college and the committee. The nature of the gift must represent something that will benefit the college as a whole and support a budget-relieving effort such as student scholarships, selected activities, programs or equipment needs.
This year, senior class members voted and chose to continue supporting sustainable energies at Miller Farm, with the money they raised to continue contributing to the farm eventually being run by solar wind power. Last year’s senior class also chose this as their gift, which supported the installation of a wind turbine at the farm. This year’s senior class members also chose to raise money to contribute a bench on campus, to match the concrete 1910 bench near the swing at the Heart.
For those seniors who are short on cash, College Provost and Professor of Psychology Nelson Bingham has invited seniors, through e-mail, to participate in the Senior Survey, which donates money to the Senior Gift.
“It helps give the college information they need on graduating seniors, and with every senior who completes the survey, the college donates $5.00 to the Senior Gift Committee’s total,” said SGC member Keeley McAnnis-Entenman, senior. “This is such an easy way to give, and so far about 48 seniors have participated.”
Committee members will spend these last few weeks talking with peers, including non-seniors and faculty, to help reach their goal.
“With only $1,405.82 more dollars to raise and 23% more of the senior class to give, the possibility of reaching our goal is achievable if we work really hard these last few weeks,” said Turley.
SGC members will be tabling in Runyan for the rest of the semester. Donors may also stop by the Alumni and Student Development Offices and give money directly to Mae Turley.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
