The First One Purpose Scholarships are Now Being Awarded as Recruitment for Volunteers to Raise Funds During the Fall Fund Drive Begins
Meet a few of our 2015 One Purpose scholarship recipients.
Now headed into its second year, preparations for One Purpose — CSU Stanislaus' annual fundraising campaign for scholarships — are underway and stirring excitement both on campus and in the community.
Last year's inaugural campaign brought together 175 volunteers and 750 donors to raise more than $818,000 for student scholarships. And nearly half of those who gave to One Purpose were new donors to the University, resulting in new connections and support from the region.
As a result of this fundraising success, scholarships are now being awarded to students for the upcoming academic year. The first cohort of One Purpose scholarships will be distributed this month to 125 current students in disciplines across campus. A second cohort of new students will receive scholarships in the fall.
"Donors to One Purpose have the opportunity to see the impact of their support right away," said Shirley Pok, vice president for university advancement, who led the team that launched the inaugural campaign last year. "The funds we raised last fall are making a difference for students right now, and these scholarship awards demonstrate the amazing results that volunteers can be a part of."
This year, the community will hear from the students who were the first to receive One Purpose scholarships. Pok pointed to the enthusiasm of these students as a source of inspiration and pride for the second year of the campaign.
"Their stories are laced with appreciation, motivation and a commitment to excellence," Pok said. "Additionally, their accomplishments endorse the support of our community."
In the midst of awarding student scholarships, the second year of the campaign is already gearing up to launch in August. Leaders from both the campus and the community have stepped up to recruit volunteers who will dedicate their time and enthusiasm toward the goal of raising $1 million during the six-week campaign this fall.
Pok described the annual campaign as a unifying force, with the ability to bring volunteers together with a common goal to make an impact on student success. During the first year of the campaign, volunteers and donors were engaged not only in fundraising, but also as ambassadors for the University.
"The key to achieving our goal in this second year will be more involvement from our volunteers," Pok said. "We are laying the groundwork now for teams of volunteers that will be prepared to reach a broad scope of the community with inspiring stories from our student scholars."
This fall, members of the community will once again be invited to make an investment in the future of the region by giving to scholarships for outstanding students. The campaign is designed with eight different giving levels and the flexibility of making payments throughout the year, providing the opportunity for anyone and everyone to make a positive impact on student success through a One Purpose membership.
Every dollar that is raised through One Purpose goes toward scholarships, making it an excellent opportunity for donors to see their contributions in action.
"This is just the beginning of what we will be able to accomplish with the community as our partner," Pok said.
To find out how you can volunteer or make a donation to One Purpose, contact Jacqueline Holt, director of annual giving, at (209) 667-3131 or jlholt@csustan.edu