Even In The Homestretch, Landmark College Alumni Challenge Maintains Momentum

PUTNEY — Just a few short months after announcing the first ever Alumni Challenge — the College is well on its way to meeting the goal of earning a matching gift of $20,000 toward the Annual Fund through two new exciting programs, which now include a new text-to-give option.

“We're within striking distance of our goal with only about 10% left to go” said Tricia Stanley, Associate Director of Alumni Relations. “The fact that alumni contributions will be doubled has had a very positive impact on support.”

The first matching challenge calls for 100 alumni to give to the Annual Fund. Once the goal is met, a generous donor has pledged a matching gift of $5000 to Landmark College.

“A high percentage of Landmark College alumni have graduated with associates degrees, so many recent graduates are still pursuing four year and postsecondary degrees” explained Stanley. “Realizing that it's not how much you give, but rather their actual participation that matters, has definitely influenced alumni enthusiasm for supporting this exciting opportunity.”

The second matching challenge aims to boost participation and is open to all Landmark College contributors. For this challenge, every first-time donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $15,000 by another generous donor. “Both options offer alumni ways to double their investment in Landmark College,” said Stanley.

The new text-to-give option is a very easy way for people to donate directly from their smart phones. “It’s literally three steps to text in a donation with this new text-to-give option," Stanley shared with great enthusiasm. “Type LANDMARK to 20222, press send and press yes. Done.”

Stanley recommended the Office of Institutional Advancement move in the direction of text-to-give after evaluating emerging trends in making donations.  “When we realized how easy it is for people to give via text, and the growing number of people preferring to complete transactions on their mobile devices, we knew we wanted to get on board,” shared Chelsea Gwyther, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at the College. "We’re thankful and encouraged by the early contributions being received through the text-to-give option.”

Gifts to the College Annual Fund support scholarships for deserving students, help attract and retain respected faculty, improve technological infrastructure, develop new academic initiatives, update laboratory equipment, expand library resources, and enhance the recreation, athletics, and leisure elements of the Putney campus.

"I worked hard this semester on the Class Gift Committee because I am one of the students who benefited from what the Annual Fund supports," said Sarah Duffy, a '13 graduate of Landmark College.  "As a Resident Assistant, I was able to build my leadership skills and support my peers, and I would not have had that chance if it were not for the Annual Fund.”  Even as a recent graduate, Duffy recognizes the need to give and felt proud that her graduating class chose to donate their class gift toward scholarships. "Coming to this college is an experience anyone who is eligible should have the opportunity to try," shared Duffy.  "I gave so that someone else could benefit by learning and gaining experiences like I did at Landmark College.”