Drexel Achieves Fifty-Four Percent Participation in Faculty and Staff Fundraising Campaign

Drexel University’s faculty and professional staff raised a total of $737,676 during the 2011 Why I Give fundraising campaign led by the Drexel Annual Fund team and the Office of Institutional Advancement, marking an unprecedented 54 percent participation rate. Due to the overwhelming response, the campaign, which began in March, was extended through June 2011. In addition to scholarship support, the gifts will be used to enhance programs and initiatives throughout the university.

Faculty and staff enjoyed ice cream at the luncheon held on July 28 in honor of those who donated to the Why I Give campaign (click photo to view slide show).

Drexel faculty and staff choose to give back for a variety of reasons. According to Lindsay Liss, customer service coordinator for recruitment in Enrollment Management, “I give because I want to honor all of those who have given to me. I also give because I believe in Drexel as an academic institution. My father is an alumnus, my sister a student, and I am a proud employee.”

For Dr. Michael Kennedy, professor and chair of the Department of Health Science and Health Administration in the School of Public Health, “My gift is an indication of my support for the educational mission of Drexel University and of my wish that Drexel continues to grow and improve.”

Several departments achieved 100 percent participation, including Drexel Athletics, the Center for Graduate Studies, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Institutional Advancement, Institutional Research, Office of the General Council, Office of the Provost, University Communications and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Runners up in percentage of giving among departments were the Comptroller’s Office and Enrollment Management, both of which reached 97 percent participation.

Also of special mention is the School of Public Health, with the highest participation among the colleges and schools. In addition, the College of Information Sciences and Technology and University Communications were the two top departments whose participation increased by more than 50 percent.

The Office of Institutional Advancement held a luncheon on Thursday, July 28, 2011, in honor of those who donated.

For more information on the Why I Give campaign, visit www.drexel.edu/ia/annualfund/WHYIGIVE.


News Media Contact:
Alex McKechnie, News Officer, University Communications, 215-895-2705 or amckechnie@drexel.edu