Senior class giving still slow
Less than 4 percent participate so far
By: Ben Baden, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/18/08 Section: University
Donations to the senior campaign have accelerated in recent months, though the participation level is still less than last year's class at the same time.
As of early March, 153 seniors have pledged $13,878.80, said Scott Ragland, director of communications in the Office of University Advancement.
Of the total donations given, 62 are specifically for Carolina for Kibera, the official charity of choice for the senior class.
"I don't think there's much concern with it right now," said Veronica Mora, senior class vice president. "It's something everyone starts doing after Spring Break with the realization of graduation coming up."
Less than 4 percent of the senior class has donated. The goal is to have 30.5 percent of the senior class participate.
Mora said that this small percentage is common and that last year at the same time about 6 percent of the senior class had donated.
"We're telling people just to give in general but especially to CFK," Senior Marshal Justin Crouch said.
A little more than 40 percent of the donations so far have been given to CFK, and no other charity has more than a handful of donors. Other groups receiving donations include the Ackland Art Museum and the School of Nursing Foundation, which are the second and third most popular groups, respectively.
"We're going to be in the Pit a lot more after Spring Break," Mora said. "With SpringFest at the end of April, most students can get in by giving a can food donation, but we are encouraging seniors to give a donation to the senior campaign."
Mora expects that Wednesday's Commencement information session will put seniors in the giving mood.
And in addition to the seniors themselves, others are making pledges to the senior campaign.
There are two donors promising to match the senior class's donations if they meet certain participation requirements.
UNC alumnus David Pardue and his wife, Becky, are matching donations given to CFK up to $25,000, Mora said.
Reactions to the selection of CFK as the official class gift have been mixed.
Senior Scott Farmer said he donated to the Kenan-Flagler Business School because he was told there will be renovations there soon.
"I figured (seniors) would just like to see something, whether it's charity in Chapel Hill, they would like to be able to come back and see some of the changes that have occurred," Farmer said.
Other students are well-versed and excited about the work that CFK is doing on campus.
"I've read a lot about it," said senior biomedical engineering major Sagar Rathie, who donated to CFK.
He added that while he thought CFK was a worthwhile organization, the most important thing is that seniors participate.
Organizations seniors have donated to:
Carolina for Kibera
Ackland Art Museum
School of Nursing Foundation
Kenan-Flagler Business School
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
As of early March, 153 seniors have pledged $13,878.80, said Scott Ragland, director of communications in the Office of University Advancement.
Of the total donations given, 62 are specifically for Carolina for Kibera, the official charity of choice for the senior class.
"I don't think there's much concern with it right now," said Veronica Mora, senior class vice president. "It's something everyone starts doing after Spring Break with the realization of graduation coming up."
Less than 4 percent of the senior class has donated. The goal is to have 30.5 percent of the senior class participate.
Mora said that this small percentage is common and that last year at the same time about 6 percent of the senior class had donated.
"We're telling people just to give in general but especially to CFK," Senior Marshal Justin Crouch said.
A little more than 40 percent of the donations so far have been given to CFK, and no other charity has more than a handful of donors. Other groups receiving donations include the Ackland Art Museum and the School of Nursing Foundation, which are the second and third most popular groups, respectively.
"We're going to be in the Pit a lot more after Spring Break," Mora said. "With SpringFest at the end of April, most students can get in by giving a can food donation, but we are encouraging seniors to give a donation to the senior campaign."
Mora expects that Wednesday's Commencement information session will put seniors in the giving mood.
And in addition to the seniors themselves, others are making pledges to the senior campaign.
There are two donors promising to match the senior class's donations if they meet certain participation requirements.
UNC alumnus David Pardue and his wife, Becky, are matching donations given to CFK up to $25,000, Mora said.
Reactions to the selection of CFK as the official class gift have been mixed.
Senior Scott Farmer said he donated to the Kenan-Flagler Business School because he was told there will be renovations there soon.
"I figured (seniors) would just like to see something, whether it's charity in Chapel Hill, they would like to be able to come back and see some of the changes that have occurred," Farmer said.
Other students are well-versed and excited about the work that CFK is doing on campus.
"I've read a lot about it," said senior biomedical engineering major Sagar Rathie, who donated to CFK.
He added that while he thought CFK was a worthwhile organization, the most important thing is that seniors participate.
Organizations seniors have donated to:
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
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