Page 37 - Laker Connection Fall 2016

#Give4Dreams
When it comes to advancing a University, fundraising is an integral part of the process. Donors and friends are the heart- beat of what drives scholarships and other types of financial aid to many students in the pursuit of their dreams. From July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, Clayton State was able to award $516,584 in scholarship funds, in part through the generosity of financial gifts from our generous supporters.
And while you may see many expected fundraising tactics through our annual giving campaign - like mail, email and phone outreach – that are the foundation and underpinnings of this type of work, every once in a while you need to step outside of the box a little.
“Dr. Hynes and I had talked about a day of giving for a while. It was something he felt strongly about doing at Clayton Sta- te,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that what we did would not only generate gifts, but also increase awareness of the University throughout metro Atlanta and beyond.”
And it sure did! From over 600 live stream viewers to an active social media presence, donors tweeted out their su- pport throughout the event with messages like, “I gave up Starbucks to be part of a community of giving back! I’m part of #Give4Dreams!”
Dr. Lisa Eichelberger, Dean of the College of Health, twee- ted after the College won an incentive challenge, “Thanks College of Health donors!!! We won the BIG $2,000 prize at @11–1 today!”
And although #Give4Dreams provided a day full of enter- tainment and fun, everyone remained focused on the goal at hand and raised an impressive $91,947 – just in time to exceed the $90,000 goal set forth before the event.
Troelstra added, “Gifts to Clayton State have an immediate and life-changing impact on our students. Scholarship gifts can literally mean the difference between whether or not a student can complete his or her degree, and supporting one of the many campus departments or programs ensures that we’re able to offer our students an engaging educational experience that positions them for future success.”
Funds raised will advance several projects at the University. From study abroad programs, to scholarships, to conferen- ces and emergency funds for students, a variety of areas will reap the benefits of the huge initiative.
The day may be over, but it’s impact has just begun and the campus is already planning for #Give4Dreams 2017. The event is currently slated for Wednesday, March 1, 2017 and is sure to bring as much, if not more excitement, and oppor- tunity to help students make their dreams a reality.
That’s exactly what Clayton State did with #Give4Dreams, the University’s first annual day of giving that provided over 90,000 reasons to say “thank you.” It was an ambitious endea- vor that will help make the dreams of many students a reality. The 24-hour event took place on March 1, 2016 where over $90,000 in financial gifts where garnered from over 300 gene- rous donors—exceeding its goal at 102.19 percent.
An eight-hour portion of #Give4Dreams featured a live broad- cast that was streamed via YouTube with multiple hosts and interviews with faculty, staff, students, alumni, supporters and corporate partners.
Kate Troelstra, vice president for University Advancement, and the visionary behind the #Give4Dreams project, hoped the event would help cast a spotlight on Clayton State.
24-hour day of giving provides 90,000+ reasons to celebrate by Maritza E. Ferreira
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