Megan Matthew, a biology major from Bryant, Arkansas, was recently selected as MVC - most valuable caller - for the spring phone-a-thon. As a reward for her hard work, Megan received a “dinner for 2″ gift card from Brave New Restaurant. Megan, a junior, and 24 other student callers recently completed The Fund for UALR phone-a-thon, which ran from February 7th - March 3rd.
Congratulations, Megan! (and may we recommend the Chocolate Creme Brulee??)
The Fund for UALR phone-a-thon kicked off on Monday, February 7th. Through the phone-a-thon, alumni and friends are educated on the importance of supporting the annual fund, as well as thanked for past support. Over the next 4 weeks, 26 UALR students will man the phones in the Institute of Economic Advancement’s call center, located in the Reynolds College of Business. In addition to providing a source of unrestricted dollars for the campus, the phone-a-thon has provided great opportunities for students to earn income while building a base of support for their university.
“My favorite part about calling UALR alumni is getting to know people that I normally would have never gotten to,” said Nanette Zobkov, a junior International Studies major and Donaghey Scholar. “The initial fear of talking to strangers wears off when you get to work with awesome people.” The IEA call center consists of 10 phones, computers, and cubicles, each of which comes equipped with a talkative student every night of the phone-a-thon. Students form close bonds with one another as they work in a team-atmosphere to raise money and reach goals.
Along with a sense of camaraderie and friendship, students experience a deeper appreciation for their future alma mater. “The phone-a-thon has changed my perspective of UALR because I now know a lot more about the history of the university and how it has changed over time,” said Keaton Ramaker, a freshman considering a major in business. As student callers must be able to answer questions about current changes and updates around campus, they must also be well versed in the university’s origins and evolution.
“Fundraising is a very hard thing to do, but very rewarding at the same time,” continues Zobkov. “As a student, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture when you have homework and tests. But as a caller, its really cool seeing how [UALR] has transformed and developed into an amazing school with lots of fun activities and opportunities for its students and alumni.”
The phone-a-thon for The Fund for UALR runs from February 7th – March 3rd.
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UALR alums Georgia Mjartan and Malcolm Glover recently told thousands of people about The Fund for UALR. None of those thousands, however, have yet to hear their message. That’s because Mjartan and Glover just finished starring in a video that will be e-mailed to past donors and graduates of UALR.
While this was the film debut for The Fund for UALR, it was no mass communication introduction for Mjartan or Glover. As a Donaghey Scholar, Mjartan was featured in her fair share of UALR commercials and print media during her time on campus. Now the executive director for Our House, a shelter for the transitionally homeless, she continues to show up in central Arkansas newspapers and magazines promoting her Little Rock non-profit staple. Glover (whose voice you’ll recognize if not his face) can be heard every morning on UALR’s public radio station, KUAR 89.1 FM.
This video will be e-mailed in early September, marking the start of the Fall 2010 annual giving campaign. The Fund for UALR will primarily be promoted through a student-run phone-a-thon beginning in mid-September. The first of its kind at UALR, the phone-a-thon aims to raise $75,000 this year.
Are you a UALR student?
Do you want a job where you can build support for UALR, work with other students, and make a nice paycheck?
Could your resume use a boost, specifically with interpersonal skills, sales experience, and working as a team?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, we have the job for you! Call UALR alumni and raise support for The Fund for UALR - the university’s annual fund in only its SECOND BIG YEAR! Join our team and make UALR a stronger university by building awareness and affinity among our many alumni and friends.
To interview, call Daniel McPherson at 683-7502 or email dpmcpherson@ualr.edu. DEADLINE TO APPLY IS SEPTEMBER 1ST.
Donors who supported The Fund for UALR this past Fall made a significant impact on UALR students.
Seen here with their new textbooks, these are just 9 of the 28 students identified by the Academic Success Center as having the potential in the classroom, but not the means to afford textbooks. In order to keep up with assignments, many of them were borrowing books from classmates and photocopying pages. Because of the success of the inaugural annual fund, these students’ textbook needs were taken care of for the 2010 Spring semester.
But look again…
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All of these students will attend classes next year – but only some of them are guaranteed books. We want a guarantee for ALL of them. $5,000 is readily available to fund this project. We need $5,000 more, as this picture represents only a small percentage of students who are depending on people like you.
One click will improve UALR’s academic environment. Make a gift today and help our students accomplish their dreams of a better future.
Earth Day 2010 is April 22nd. This is a particularly special Earth Day because it marks the 40th anniversary of this celebration. But what does this have to do with The Fund for UALR?
When people donate online, they not only save the university money on paper cost, but also the environment on paper waste. Fundraiser mail-outs can have between 3-5 different paper products. With every online gift, individuals remove that much paper waste from mail rooms, trucks, and mail boxes, and ultimately, landfills.
This year, The Fund for UALR is stepping up its efforts to encourage donors to “go green” with their charitable donations. April 22nd will mark The Fund for UALR’s one-day give-a-thon through its Facebook fan page. Donors are asked to go to the fan page and click the donation page link to make their gifts.
For more information and to join the fan page before April 22nd, visit www.facebook.com/fund4ualr.
Donors who supported The Fund for UALR this past Fall made a significant impact on UALR students.
Seen here with their new textbooks, this is just 9 of the 28 students who benefited from the new fund. This group of 28 students was identified by the Academic Success Center as students who had the potential but no means to afford textbooks. In order to keep up with their assigned reading, many of them were borrowing books from classmates and making photocopies.
Because of the success of the inaugural annual fund, these students’ textbook needs were taken care of for the 2010 Spring semester. The Fund for UALR continues to reach out to alumni and friends. Please support this great effort – you never know who you’ll benefit, but you can always know you’re making a difference.
The Fund for UALR on Facebook
Fund4UALR on Twitter