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Eight alumni and more than ten students participated in the Lafayette-Lehigh Week Alumni Regional Phonathon 6:30-9 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Wilson Room of Pfenning Alumni Center. The effort garnered 30 pledges totaling $12,107. In addition, 13 individuals are still considering donating to the cause.
The alumni and parent volunteer callers were Gregory Eggert ’79, Pam Fink P’09, Kit Green ’56, Anne Angleton Hyde ’81, John Weis ’62, Richard Lee ’62, Jay Geiger ’62, and Jim Lyttle ’62. Eggert, Weis, and Lyttle also participated in the phonathon last year.
Food was provided for the callers and the Lafayette leopard mascot and cheerleaders visited.
Hyde got involved with the phonathon because of her family’s connection with her alma mater. Her husband, Robert Hyde Jr. ’78, and her father-in-law, Robert Hyde ’50, enjoyed their time at the College. Her son, Robert Hyde III ’09, is an economics and business major.
“We owe a lot to Lafayette because the school has done a lot for our family,” she says. “It’s important to give back.”
Hyde believes in the importance of graduates reaching out to fellow alumni.
“Students are great to hear from, but alumni can be effective, too,” she notes. “I find that I have success with my own classmates because we can relate more.”
As assistant director of the annual fund, Elizabeth Hertneck finds alumni and parents invaluable in the fundraising process.
“Alumni enjoy speaking with their classmates through the phonathons because they can catch up about what is happening in their class,” she says. “In addition, we have some parent volunteers who are extremely dedicated and involved. They are happy to speak with other parents during the phonathons and can relate to many of the issues that may come up during the conversation.
“We are extremely thankful for our wonderful volunteers as they keep us motivated and excited each time we meet with them. They are the lifeblood of Lafayette, and we cannot thank them enough for all of their support.”
Another phonathon took place Oct. 3 for north and central New Jersey, raising $12,880.09. Kathleen Abbate P’09, Howard Heller ’65, Doug Hobby ’61, Henry Kohlenberger Jr. ’51, and Melinda Kwasnik Kraus ’78 spent three hours making phone calls from the Accenture office of Bob Sell ’84 in Florham Park.
Donors can provide their credit card information over the phone or make a pledge to Lafayette. They are able to direct their gifts to five key areas: academic programs, financial aid, student/faculty research, student life, and unrestricted, which is used to support immediate needs. Donors also can restrict their gifts to specific areas such as the Friends of Skillman Library or the Friends of the Williams Center.