At the end of last month, 222 Northwestern students called and wrote to hundreds of donors to thank them for their gifts to the university.
Members of the Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors, cheer, Delta Zeta, Alpha Sigma Alpha, women’s soccer, football, choir, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball, nursing, theatre, International Student Association and the Woodward and Enid campuses contacted alumni and friends of the university Oct. 24 – Oct. 26 and Nov. 1.
“This was my first Thank-a-Thon and I was overwhelmed by the number of students who put their hearts and souls into these phone calls and thank you cards to let our donors know how they are making a difference in their lives,” said Tandy Keenan, relationship manager.
By the end of the four-day event, a total of 1,720 contacts were made through a combination of phone calls, phone messages and handwritten letters. Students find the Thank-a-Thon to be an opportunity to acknowledge donors for what they have given.
“I felt honored to be given the opportunity to personally thank donors,” said freshman nursing major Clara O’Connor, Edmond, Okla. “Donors have given so much to our school so I felt they should know how much we appreciate their gifts. Their donations make Northwestern a better place.”
O’Connor said initially she was nervous about making phone calls to strangers, but as she began speaking to alumni and friends of Northwestern those nerves quickly faded.
“As I started calling I heard stories of the donors’ years here as students. They talked about how Northwestern had really made an impact on their lives. I even talked to a man who spoke about the first girl he met while on campus. He went on to say they had gotten married after college and were still together today. It was really special to hear about what they loved most about the university.”