Board of Trustees raises $1 million
By MELANIE BECKER
News Writer
Saint Mary's Board of Trustees raised over $1 million for the College, fulfilling their commitment to Lilly's Endowment Challenge. In March of 2002 the Lilly Endowment Inc. announced the "Initiative to Strengthen Board Commitment," stating that they would match funds raised up to $3.5 million dollars.
The stipulations were that up to $3 million had to come from alumni, up to $250,000 from parents and up to $250,000 from current and former faculty and staff. All of the funds had to be raised by the Board of Trustees from colleges and universities in Indiana.
"The Lilly Endowment believes that there is a strong correlation between the strength of a higher education institution and the level of Trustee giving," Melanie Engler, director of Public Relations and Marketing Communications said.
The Saint Mary's Board of Trustees decided to take the challenge along with the support of Marilou Eldred, president of the College, and Shari Rodriguez, vice president for College relations. The aim was to raise $1 million over the nine-month period. By the end of the Lilly Challenge, the Board has raised $1,790,000.
In order to raise funds letters were sent to alumnae, students, parents, faculty, staff and other contributors. Health and Wellness held a bake sale in December which drew in an approximately 200 students, faculty and staff and raised $1,500.
A Lilly Faculty/Staff Challenge was set forth to Saint Mary's faculty and staff, the goal was to fundraise $250,000. New contributors from the faculty and staff opted for automatic payroll deduction for this specific fundraiser. Previous contributors from the faculty and staff have increased their donation to the college.
"As of Jan. 8, almost $750,000 has been received from 27 percent of the College's full and part-time employees. Each gift doubles the difference we can make in student lives and is deeply appreciated. The campaign has inspired generosity from every area of the campus, including a leadership gift of an endowed scholarship, gifts through payroll deduction, and gifts of cash," Engler said.
Faculty and staff used the opportunity to create scholarships and other specific funding of their choice for the college.
Mary DePauw, director of Counseling and Career Development, established the Janovsky-DePauw Memorial Scholarship in honor of her late mother, a former third grade teacher of Saint Francis in Chicago. The Janovsky-DePauw Scholarship will be awarded to disadvantaged students from the Chicago area.
"Mom's love for the Catholic faith and commitment to Catholic education enriched the lives of her family and her students," DePauw said in a previous interview. "She would like helping to make it possible for a young woman to come to Saint Mary's."
Additional funds will go towards other scholarships, construction of the new academic building, and the new dining hall and student center.
The Board of Trustees plans to continue the fundraising effort now that the Lilly Challenge period is over with a Mardi Gras Pot Luck in February, a tour of the new Noble Family Dining Hall in March, another bake sale in May and a Halloween party next fall.
All News Stories for Friday, January 31, 2003
