One Purpose volunteers attended Thursday’s reporting reception to submit pledges and celebrate their fundraising progress. Download high-res image.
Two weeks into the One Purpose fundraising campaign at California State University, Stanislaus, volunteers from the campus and the community have collected pledges totaling $116,148 for scholarships that will be awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence.
Momentum for the campaign continues to grow, and volunteers have pointed to the connections they are making in the community as a motivating factor in their ongoing efforts to raise $1 million in just six weeks to support student success.
“The energy of our One Purpose volunteers in just the first two weeks of the campaign has been tremendous,” said Shirley Pok, Vice President for University Advancement. “The pledges reported so far have come from alumni, community supporters and local businesses that hire our graduates. These contributions demonstrate an understanding that student success is truly important to the growth of our region, and that there is potential to make a great impact by investing in our students.”
This past week, CSU Stanislaus alumnus John Jacinto and his wife Edith — One Purpose volunteers and team leaders — hosted a benefit dinner with local restaurateur and chef John Surla to raise funds for the One Purpose campaign. Nearly 50 supporters attended the event at Surla’s restaurant, and pledges from the event totaled $24,000.
Another CSU Stanislaus alumna, retired nurse Nola Moccafiche, expressed her belief in empowering students to create a better future for our community. Inspired by the One Purpose campaign and stories from current students, the Stockton resident made a $10,000 contribution to reach the highest tier for One Purpose donors.
Other notable gifts at the $10,000 level were reported by volunteer Stan Gustafson, donated by Donna Pierce; by volunteers Michael and Alison Allen, business owners at Allen Mortuary; and by volunteers Allen and Pennie Rorex, donated by Emanuel Medical Center.
In addition to their pledge, Michael and Alison Allen have also stepped up to lead a team of One Purpose volunteers. They said encouraging their team members and sharing in each other’s successes have been highlights of their participation so far.
“We have been sharing the fact that 80 percent of CSU Stanislaus graduates live here and contribute to the region — people are so impressed when they realize the impact that has on the community,” said Alison Allen, who is also a CSU Stanislaus alumna. “When we tell people about our involvement in One Purpose and the opportunity to provide scholarships for students, we’ve found that they have already been hearing buzz about the fund drive in the community, and they are just ready to give.”
Fundraising campaigns that utilize the team concept — involving groups of volunteers to champion a cause — are not often seen in higher education settings. CSU Stanislaus values this team approach as an opportunity for campus and community volunteers to build relationships in the region through their fundraising efforts, strengthening support and advocacy for the University.
“Building connections between the University and the community is important,” said Jim Tuedio, Dean of the CSU Stanislaus College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and leader of a team of campus and community volunteers. “What is neat about this fundraising concept is that it links people from the campus to people in the community, and they in turn link to others.”
One Purpose volunteer Therese Lunt is a CSU Stanislaus faculty member, alumna and parent of a daughter who began attending the University this fall. As the recipient of a scholarship when she attended the University, Lunt knows the positive impact such awards can have on students.
“I am so happy to be part of such an important cause,” she said. “It is a thrill to be able to pay it forward to current and future students.”
Many volunteers have said they are motivated to share the message of the campaign with others, knowing that investment in CSU Stanislaus students is crucial to building a college-educated workforce for the region.
“When someone decides to contribute to One Purpose, their pledge will give them instant gratification, but it will also have a long-term impact on the students and the community,” volunteer Pennie Rorex said. “We have just four weeks left in our campaign — and when we make our goal, we will celebrate together.”
Those interested in more information — or in giving to One Purpose — can contact the Division of University Advancement at (209) 667-3131 or visit www.csustan.edu/one-purpose.