AQ Fund Newsletter :: Spring 2010

Spring, 2010

“Wake Up AQ” was a Rousing Success!

WAKE UP AQ! Students for Students— Blasting all Records!

Literally hundreds of AQ students stepped up to buy the “Wake Up AQ” T-shirts knowing they were helping out fellow students with the new Students for Students scholarship through the Aquinas Fund.

It was a weeklong project culminating in a huge party Friday February 19th with over 500 students attending. The Students for L to R: Julie Marchese,Kelly Allen, Leah Students Kicinski, Ellen Harburn, and Sister Alice scholarship idea Wittenbach all helped to make the germinated campaign a rousing success! from the awareness that some students and their

Living Tree and Giving

by Cecilia Cunningham Director, The Aquinas Fund

The Grand Rapids Alumni Breakfast was bursting with energy as we hosted the largest group of alumni in the seven year history of the program. Amid the laughter and networking, Aquinas Fund Co-chair Angela Korte ‘96 announced the launch of the new “Saints Forever” program and introduced

families have faced devastating financial hardship in the current economy. As an Aquinas community, people have wanted to reach out to help. The project has been L to R: Lizzie Voet, Mary Basel, and Anna McNamara a huge success.

Several hundred students raised over $800 dollars and this was matched by an anonymous Alumni donor who was inspired by the students initiative. The funds are being made immediately available through two $800 scholarships. At the time of this publication, over 40 students have applied for the two scholarships.

The two recipients selected are Chelsey Taylor and Christopher Whiting. Congratulations Chelsey and Chris! Hats off to the Aquinas students who made it happen—GO SAINTS!

Beth Radecki ’10 who shared from the heart about her Aquinas student experience. The Alumni joining us that day pledged over $41,000 to the Aquinas Fund for student scholarships. Special thanks to Mark Meijer ’80 and the Meijer Foundation for offering a $50,000 match for funds raised both at this breakfast and the state-wide initiative which will take place in June. Be a part of the wave of participation—please! Sometimes it’s too easy to look at the person sitting (or standing) next to you when there is a call to action. I hope I can inspire each of you reading this to visit our on-line giving (www.aquinas.edu/giving) by June 30, 2010 and make a difference in someone’s life through scholarships. Our alumni participation is critical to leveraging larger grant opportunities—so regardless of the size, please give a gift today!

The Importance of Giving Reflections on Aquinas

by Angela Korte

I was the first in my family to go away to college and, growing up as a Catholic in a small, close-knit community, I knew that I wanted to attend a smaller school vs. a large university.

The price tag for an Aquinas education was too expensive for my parents and me to afford. The availability of Aquinas scholarships allowed my attendance at the College to become possible. I am truly blessed to have been a recipient of scholarship funds made available by the many very generous donors. Without them, I know that I would not be able to call myself an Aquinas Alumni­—something I am extremely proud of and very honored to be.

Angela (Balbaugh) Korte ‘96 and Dave Korte

As a “young alumni” and through my work for the Aquinas Fund, I hope to motivate other recent graduates, alumni, and even current students to see

that any gift they give makes a difference in the lives of students. I think they will also find that it makes a difference in their own life too—I know it does in mine.

In my experience growing up in a small community where many individuals do not attend or do not graduate from college, I have observed many examples of the immeasurable positive impact that earning a college degree can have on an individual’s quality of life. Each student who wants a high quality of life should be able to attain it. In becoming active in the Aquinas Fund, I have found a way to make college dreams come true for students who would not otherwise be able to fulfill them.

In the first few years after graduation from Aquinas, I felt that the small gifts I was able to give weren’t really enough to make a difference. When I finally realized that, “Yes! My gifts do have an impact”, I became a more active supporter to the College.

Both my husband David and I believe strongly that charitable financial giving is a choice and it is possible.

Wanting to support a cause is one thing, but choosing to do so is an act that requires faith and effort.

Prayerfully considering what God is calling you to do, and making lifestyle choices that allow you to answer that call are essential steps in charitable giving. We are all called to be good stewards of God’s blessings and stewardship is about giving your first gifts, not what you have left over.

Alumni Giving Makes “Cents” The new “Saints Forever” program is an exciting and fresh addition to encourage new graduates and young alumni to start and continue support of the Aquinas Fund annually. It was launched at the spring Alumni Breakfast and was very well received. Of those graduating seniors attending, over 50 percent joined by giving their first gift. The program was inspired by “Mr. Aquinas” himself, Lyle Morrison ‘52, who deeply wants to increase alumni participation.

The “Saints Forever” program is designed to inform and encourage a lifetime of giving back and to “pay it forward” to help the next generation of students through scholarships. We are thrilled to have students

and young alumni who are already excited about donating to the College they love. Each new donor receives a handsome “Saints Forever” pin to proudly wear. The next phase of the program will be to recognize those individuals who have already been giving for decades.

We are currently at 14% alumni participation – we need at least 500 more alumni to offer a gift of any size by June 30, 2010. We still have nearly $52,000 in matching funds from the Wege Foundation. Each new or increased gift is eligible. To donate online go to (www.aquinas.edu/giving) or call 616-632-2816 or 616-632-2804 today!

Our Campaign Goal is 1.6 Million.

To date, we have raised

Campaign Highlights

Want to win a new iPod ShufFLe™?

Update your Alumni information via our new online community, the Saints Network! Please go to: www.aquinas.edu/saints_network, and make your changes before June 15 to receive a chance at this giveaway! We never sell your information to anyone—it is completely confidential within our database.

More importantly, recent information can help other Alumni from your class find you!

If you are chosen, you will be contacted immediately to redeem your prize!

Become a Fan of our Facebook Page! www.facebook.com/aquinasalumni

$1,337,849!

• Wege Challenge Match – $250,000 in matching money. We still have $45,895 to go!

• Percentage of Alumni Participation in the Fiscal Year to Date is 13.66%. Our participation goal is at least 20% so we still need 500 people to give or pledge by June 30, 2010. Any gift of any size will help and this significantly impacts the strength of our applications for major gifts through grants.

Please get involved­—today.

Follow Us on Twitter!

www.twitter.com/aquinasalumni

Join the Saints Network! www.aquinas.edu/saints_network

Brett Stoll ’12 Being a first generation college student certainly has presented its fair share of financial hurdles. Aquinas was the only college able to provide me with the financial support I needed to attend college. Those alumni and others who generously donate to the Aquinas Fund have provided me with an opportunity to be a part of the AQ community and to take part in all of the outstanding experiences it has to offer. Since the Fall of ’09, the beginning of my Sophomore year, I have had the pleasure of working at the AQ phone center, connecting with many of the generous alumni who give back to the college. This spring, I was able to intern in the Alumni Relations office as coordinator of one of the most successful Alumni Breakfasts to date. Witnessing so many dedicated individuals respond to the needs of students at AQ has been an eye-opening experience of just how much community and education means to this organization and its members.

I feel extremely fortunate to have been afforded the opportunities that I once thought unattainable. To all those who donate to the Aquinas Fund: Thank you; and I will continue to strive to make the most of your invaluable gift.

Special thanks to Mary Sella ‘85 who has made this e-newsletter a reality. She has volunteered countless graphic design and editing hours­­—you’re the best Mary!

Aquinas Fund

(616) 632-2816 or (616) 632-2804

1607 Robinson Road Southeast Grand Rapids, MI 49506

c.cunningham@aquinas.edu (e-mail) (616) 732-4481 (fax) (800) 678-9593 (toll-free)

www.aquinas.edu