University Park, Pa. -- Last spring at University Park, members of Penn State's Student Philanthropy Council (SPC) set up tables in the HUB and in front of Pattee Library and asked students who felt they had benefited from philanthropy to the University to sign banners laid out on the tables.
Some students simply signed their names, others wrote short notes, and still others recorded their thanks -- all captured in a video the SPC produced to thank Penn State donors for their generosity. The video can be viewed at /video/156518/2013/02/09/video-no-title online.
"We decided to do this project not only to thank donors, but also to continue to encourage the philanthropic spirit and tradition at Penn State," said Becky McAuley, president of the SPC. "Most students don't realize the impact that private giving has on their educational experiences. By getting people to stop by and sign the banner, we were able to inform participants about the importance of private gifts to the University and give them a better knowledge of where some of their campus resources came from.
"Without philanthropy, many of the buildings and other resources we use as students wouldn't exist. We also wanted to make students aware that they can begin giving back now, and that any gift counts."
Jordan Ford, assistant director of annual giving, said the goal was to fill at least one 8' by 8' banner with signatures; when the event was over, the students had filled three.
"Since not every donor has a chance to regularly interact with students, we hope to show them the impact they have by taking the banners to University events," explained Ford. "The idea came about when we were looking for a way to both engage students in a conversation about giving back and find a unique way to thank our generous donors.
"A lot of our students are seeing friends who are unable to return because of the bad economy, decreased state support, and rising tuition. Every student benefits from philanthropy in some way and students should feel a sense of pride in being a part of giving back to the University so they can help future students."
The SPC gives students a close-up look at the fundraising operation at Penn State and the University's capital campaign, "For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students," as well as the opportunity to be involved in marketing and campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the role philanthropy plays at the University. Its mission is to provide a student perspective on giving back, promote awareness of how private giving impacts student life, and establish a legacy of philanthropy that enhances the future of Penn State.
To learn more about the Student Philanthropy Council, visit http://giveto.psu.edu/s/1218/index.aspx?sid=1218&gid=1&pgid=414 online.