Members of the class of 2014 did their part to give back to their soon-to-be alma mater when Syracuse University celebrated Class Act Day on Monday.

Graduating seniors were encouraged to give back to SU by donating $20.14 to commemorate their graduation year as part of the 2014 Senior Class Giving Campaign. The event also kicked off this year’s Philanthropy Week. Donations were accepted via the Class Act website, where students, friends and relatives of the class of 2014 participated and shared their stories on the website.

Students who donated $20.14 or more received an invitation to enjoy refreshments at the Class of 2014 Donor Appreciation Event on April 23 from 5–7 p.m. The event is set to be held at Club 44 in the Carrier Dome, according to the Class Act website.

Kristen Duggleby, assistant director of annual giving programs, said a committee of seniors led the event to energize the rest of the class to participate in fundraising.

The Senior Class Giving Campaign started with the Class of 2010, but the first Class Act Day took place last year, she added.

“The Class Act initiative runs the entire academic year with a major focus and push second semester,” Duggleby said. “Class Act Day was started to put an intense emphasis on educating students about giving back to SU, having students make a gift to support what is meaningful to them and creating a buzz through social media.”
Duggleby said the amount they’re able to raise varies year-to-year. Although the initiative is targeted toward seniors, all students can give back to support an area of SU, whether it’s scholarships, an individual college or student life, she said.
“We want them to leave their legacy and give to what is important to them,” Duggleby added.
Following the donation process, an email was sent to each donor, congratulating him or her and offering up the opportunity to share the accomplishment on Facebook and Twitter. The social media posts were used as a sign of pride, while also encouraging others to join in the giving.

PJ Alampi, a member of the 2014 Senior Class Giving Committee, said he gave to the annual fund in order to make sure SU stays in top shape.

“Giving back to SU is important because it provides years to come with the same amazing opportunities we, as seniors, found on the Hill,” he said.

Simone Goldslager, a member of the Student Philanthropy Council, which hosts Philanthropy Week, said giving back to SU as a student is important because the school gives students many opportunities that others may not have.

She added that everyone has their personal reasons for coming to SU, and their unique reasons to give back to the university.

“We all have a story for why we came to SU. My dad came here, and I thought that SU presented me with the brightest future,” Goldslager said. “I think that when we think about the reasons why we came to SU, giving back isn’t something that’s hard to do — we want to do it.”

Published on April 1, 2014 at 1:59 am