Elon thanks all young alumni who took the Challenge. Check back this week for the final tally and video message from Trustee Kerrii Anderson '79.
The IGNITE Challenge ended at midnight Saturday, March 31. Elon is counting gifts and will announce this week how many young alumni participated in the Challenge and had their gifts matched 5-to-1 by Kerrii Anderson ’79. Anderson issued her third and final Challenge on March 1 to increase annual giving among young alumni. This year’s goal was 2,000 donors.
Young alumni who missed the Challenge can still make a gift to Elon for this fiscal year, which ends on May 31. All gifts from alumni strengthen the Elon student experience.
Nine young alumni stepped up to help make the final Challenge the most successful yet. They agreed to donate $25,000 to Elon if 2,000 young alums participate in the Challenge by March 31. The university is grateful for the leadership of John Marshall ’01, Alex ’04 and Elizabeth ’04 Brener, Andrew ’05 and Kristi ’05 Hollins, Patrick Elliott ’07, Dave Morrow ’07 L’10, Alston Team ’07 and Garrett Turner ’08.
Click on the link to the right to view a message from Dave Morrow about the bonus gift.
Young alumni have made the IGNITE Challenge one of Elon’s most successful fundraising drives. In 2010, the first year of the Challenge, 628 young alums participated by making gifts. Last year, 1,394 young alums participated, exceeding the goal of 1,200 donors during the second year of the Challenge.
Each year gifts from thousands of alumni provide vital support for university operations. These gifts support academic programs, scholarships, faculty development, student organizations, athletics and the Elon Experiences (study abroad, research, internships, service and leadership) among other priorities. Young alumni represent the future of Elon and are asked to support their alma mater this year and every year.
Here’s how the Challenge worked:
All gifts of $20 or more during March were matched 5-to-1 by Anderson. Qualifying gifts included cash, online gifts, recurring gifts and payments on any pledge made since June 1, 2011. These gifts qualified donors for membership in IGNITE, Elon’s young alumni giving program.
The payoff:
5-to-1!
Make a gift of $20, and Anderson contributed $100 to Elon. Give $100 and Anderson gave $500. Anderson’s matching dollars will support students, faculty and programs.
Challenge tally as of March 30:
Total young alumni gifts: 1,400
Total young alumni dollars: $58,047.71
Total matching dollars: $290,238.55
Total: $348,236.26
Young alumni could choose between making unrestricted gifts and designating their gifts to support the academic department, school, athletics or affinity program that meant the most to them. Seniors were also eligible to join the Challenge by making a qualifying gift during March. Those who participate will became members of IGNITE.
Check out what young alumni said about their gifts to Elon:
- “Although I am currently a graduate student at another university, I still consider myself a Phoenix and will always be grateful to Elon. When I reflect upon my Elon education, I think of not only the fantastic professors who knew me by name or the knowledge I gained in the classroom, but also of my semester abroad in Africa, the hours I spent working 1-on-1 with my research mentor and the Fellows program where I found my closest friends.” Ivy Crank ’09
- “I’d like to support the Elon in LA program to give students interested in entertainment the chance to broaden their horizons and get real-life experience working in the entertainment capital of the world.”
Andrea Bernick ’11 - “I am very proud of my alma mater and want to pass on the wonderful experience of Elon to the next generation.” Kara Anderson ’06 (niece of Kerrii Anderson ’79)
- “Elon taught me a lot about the world inside and outside the classroom. Without Elon, I may not have met my wife and created these three beautiful children we are blessed to have. Knowing someone will match my gift 5-to-1 is too good an opportunity to let slip by.” John ’01 and Gina Haldeman ’01
- “My time at Elon changed my life and helped mold me into the person I am today. I am forever grateful for this amazing university!” Amanda Davis ’07
- “I’m more than happy to donate to the business school that has done so much for me. I am forever grateful to the amazing faculty and staff of the Love School of Business. Thanks to Kerrii Anderson for matching!” Jennifer Kirts ’11
- “I LOVE my alma mater!” Latwoia Abbott ’07
Anderson, former CEO of Wendy’s International, urged young alums to “Kerrii on” the tradition of annual giving by supporting Elon this year and every year.