Spring Break
UConn Foundation unaffected by economy
Joe Adinolfi
Issue date: 2/19/09 Section: News
Hard economic times always lead to reductions in nonessential spending. But the UConn Foundation - the university's primary organ for the reception of charitable contributions - continues to thrive.
"To this point, we haven't noticed a drop off in contributions," said UConn Foundation spokesman Arthur Sorrentino. "Actually, through December, we were running ahead by about $5 million."
The foundation raised $20.9 million through December of last year, exceeding the previous year's take by $5.24 million.
Former UConn president Homer D. Babbidge Jr. established the UConn Foundation in 1964. He believed that UConn needed an organization through which private contributions could be made.
Since its inception, it has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in private funds for endowed scholarships and other public services.
The UConn Foundation also offers opportunities to students. UConn alumni and students are employed by the phone-a-thon, the UConn Foundation call center that solicits many of the smaller donations. Students working at the phone-a-thon call students' parents and different sub-groups of alumni based on the college from which they graduated and whether or not they have previously donated.
"Some nights we struggle for donations and other nights we get a lot of donations; it all depends on what group of alumni we speak to," said Alexandria Raleigh, a 2nd-semester political science and psychology double major who works at the phone-a-thon.
Donations may continue to rise through the coming months, partly due to President Michael Hogan's new Presidential Challenge Program. The program began on Feb. 2 and has already received several significant donations.
The program's stated goal involves raising more than $100 million for scholarships and graduate fellowships. Of those donations, $50 million will be available to match all donations more than $20,000, possibly providing enough of an incentive for prospective donors who were previously undecided.
Two large donations have already been received. One came from Margaret Keane of Ridgefield, a parent who contributed $20,000, and the other by Doug Donaldson of Manchester, an alumnus from the class of '73. Donaldson and his wife contributed $35,000.
UConn relies on these donations to fund endowments and other scholarships. Large donors can even create a scholarship in their name if they supply the endowment to keep it funded.
"Many donate because they want to have a strong flagship public university or they support our sports teams," Sorrentino said.
Whatever the reason, UConn needs these donations now as much as ever, and with a little luck, the UConn Foundation will be able to reach the many appreciative parents and alumni who can afford to give back.
"To this point, we haven't noticed a drop off in contributions," said UConn Foundation spokesman Arthur Sorrentino. "Actually, through December, we were running ahead by about $5 million."
The foundation raised $20.9 million through December of last year, exceeding the previous year's take by $5.24 million.
Former UConn president Homer D. Babbidge Jr. established the UConn Foundation in 1964. He believed that UConn needed an organization through which private contributions could be made.
Since its inception, it has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in private funds for endowed scholarships and other public services.
The UConn Foundation also offers opportunities to students. UConn alumni and students are employed by the phone-a-thon, the UConn Foundation call center that solicits many of the smaller donations. Students working at the phone-a-thon call students' parents and different sub-groups of alumni based on the college from which they graduated and whether or not they have previously donated.
"Some nights we struggle for donations and other nights we get a lot of donations; it all depends on what group of alumni we speak to," said Alexandria Raleigh, a 2nd-semester political science and psychology double major who works at the phone-a-thon.
Donations may continue to rise through the coming months, partly due to President Michael Hogan's new Presidential Challenge Program. The program began on Feb. 2 and has already received several significant donations.
The program's stated goal involves raising more than $100 million for scholarships and graduate fellowships. Of those donations, $50 million will be available to match all donations more than $20,000, possibly providing enough of an incentive for prospective donors who were previously undecided.
Two large donations have already been received. One came from Margaret Keane of Ridgefield, a parent who contributed $20,000, and the other by Doug Donaldson of Manchester, an alumnus from the class of '73. Donaldson and his wife contributed $35,000.
UConn relies on these donations to fund endowments and other scholarships. Large donors can even create a scholarship in their name if they supply the endowment to keep it funded.
"Many donate because they want to have a strong flagship public university or they support our sports teams," Sorrentino said.
Whatever the reason, UConn needs these donations now as much as ever, and with a little luck, the UConn Foundation will be able to reach the many appreciative parents and alumni who can afford to give back.
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