OU student employees picked up the phones recently to call alumni and invite them to give back in support of Oakland University. On Monday through Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons, 25 callers gathered in the basement of the Kresge Library to ask alumni to give to the OU Fund. Donations to the OU Fund support current priorities, ranging from student scholarships to technological upgrades for the classroom, and research funding. This fall student callers have raised more than $100,000 in gifts and pledges from generous alumni and friends.
According to Starr Cornell, Director of Annual Giving, the enthusiastic group of student employees received valuable, on the job training, as well as skills they can list on future resumes, plus it was fun for the students to speak with alumni and vice versa. "Calling Alumni for donations is a great job that allows me the satisfaction of knowing that I am helping to benefit something that is bigger than myself." said a student caller.
Alumni participation in giving is an important metric when gauging a university’s success. Alumni gifts leverage assistance from corporations and foundations, which often factor the support of alumni and friends into their own funding decisions. If you’d like to help raise the profile of your alma mater and increase the value of an OU degree while benefiting current students, make your gift to the OU Fund today.
