Overseen by Rob Schur ’98 in his first year as Assistant Director of the Annual Fund, the Senior Class Gift Committee (SCGC) started its fundraising efforts earlier than the committees of years past. Chaired by Liz Neckes ’08 and comprised of fellow seniors Nick Boehm, Chris Gillyard, Kelly King, Rives Kitchell, Alex McMullin, Kim Partee and Brooke Rosenkrantz, the SCGC focused on promoting what Schur calls a “culture of philanthropy” that would get students in the habit of giving not only to Amherst, but to other charitable institutions as well. Nevertheless, getting seniors in the habit of giving to the College was the primary objective of the committee. The SCGC did not focus on reaching a certain dollar total, but on exceeding 80 percent participation. With gifts still coming in, an additional $10,000 gift from an anonymous donor for reaching the target will be added to the $3,200 already raised.
“I love Amherst and wanted to give back to the College and this is a way to give back to the school that has given me so much,” said Rosenkrantz. “The point of the gift is not necessarily to give the most money, but to measure our appreciation and give thanks.” Neckes added that she also fundraises and gives because she believes it is a “good way to show my solidarity with my class and commitment to the school.”
Gifts to the Annual Fund are directed towards the College’s most pressing needs. Unlike students at many colleges and universities across the country, the College’s seniors make their donations to the general Annual Fund instead of a tangible, physical gift. Furthermore, their gifts are not built into other programs, but are completely independent and student-initiated. Some colleges tie their senior gifts into the price of tickets to events such as a senior dinner (which is free at Amherst) and involve parents in the fundraising efforts. At the College, however, explained Schur, the gift is “done by our students for our students.” The Committee sent e-mails to the class outlining its goals and solicited donations during lunch. The College will host a reception on Monday night that will feature a speech by President Marx and an array of beverages and snacks as a way of thanking the class of 2008 for its tremendous gift. The reception will also provide another opportunity for seniors to give last-minute.
Schur attributes the success of this year’s gift to the hard work of the committee. “The Senior Gift Committee did a great job of reaching out to the class and explaining why giving is important instead of just asking for money,” he said. “The message really resonated with the class.”
Schur believes students appreciate the College’s current focus on making an Amherst education as accessible as possible and the recent improvements to the campus. “People really feel compelled to support [these initiatives] and to safeguard for the future.”
“All students realize the opportunities Amherst has afforded them,” added Schur. “The Senior Gift is a way to give back and make sure future generations have the same opportunities.”