Faculty, Staff Set Pace for Carpe Diem Campaign

Jan. 29, 2008—McDaniel’s faculty and staff set a high standard for giving to the college’s Carpe Diem Campaign when 68 percent made gifts and pledges totaling nearly $830,000 to date, more than doubling the $400,000 goal.

But then, McDaniel’s campus community has a history of support for the college and its life-changing mission. A 24-percent participation in annual giving by faculty and staff ranks among the 45-percent highest rates nationwide, according to the 2006 Voluntary Support of Education Survey conducted by the Council for Aid to Education, a national non-profit organization based in New York City.

Now campaign leaders are hoping this extraordinary level of support sparks a similar level of participation among alumni and members of the local and regional communities.
 
“This demonstration of generosity is exceptional,” says alumnus Lee Rice, trustee emeritus and chair of the Carpe Diem Campaign. “These dedicated members of the campus community certainly set the pace for college alumni and friends to follow. Plus, their support sends a strong signal to corporations and foundations that our community is working together to strengthen the college.”
 
The campaign’s themes – Living, Learning and Teaching – reflect the three main areas targeted for funding. Gifts to the campaign will provide endowment funds to shape the future, capital funds to revitalize the residential living-learning community and annual funds to support on-going operations. As a comprehensive campaign…every gift to the college’s annual fund counts as a gift to the Carpe Diem campaign.

A campus campaign committee led by professors Kathy Mangan, English, and Herb Smith, Political Science, held information sessions to get the word out to all faculty and staff. The theme, “Inside/Out” communicated the value of support for the campaign from campus insiders and helped the effect to attain its critically important campaign goals.

“It was inspiring to receive gifts from each and every department of the college, from housekeeping to campus safety to conference services, ” said Mangan. Several departments achieved 100 percent participation, while numerous individuals increased giving to Founders Society level [$1000 and above], and still others made first-time gifts.

“Their enthusiasm was contagious,” said Smith. “We are showing both ourselves and the world that McDaniel is growing stronger from the inside out.”