When Stefania Samayoa, a junior accounting major in the School of Business Administration, made a phone call one evening last October, she had no idea what impact the call would have.
“My education at Loyola would not be possible without alumni support.”Phonathon caller-trainer Stefania Samayoa |
Samayoa made an especially meaningful connection with a Loyola graduate that October night. An alumnus of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), he shared his Loyola experiences with Samayoa. After a great conversation on the new initiatives and programs in the College,
he pledged $10,000. CAS Dean Isiaah Crawford, PhD, called to personally thank him for his commitment. Following their conversation, the alumnus hand-delivered an increased gift of $20,000, making it the largest in Phonathon history.
Samayoa, an international student, says she appreciates the alumnus’s generosity and is happy she was able to help him extend a hand to today’s students.
“My education at Loyola would not be possible without alumni support. It’s really gratifying to see alumni participation at all levels of giving, not just the gifts of $20,000,” she says.
Samayoa and her 86 coworkers are led by Sean Martin (BBA ’06), assistant director of annual giving, who says he’s very proud of the Phonathon team and the funds they raise. These students work part-time calling Loyola alumni, parents, and friends to tell them about the exciting things happening at Loyola; share their own Loyola experiences; and ask for support. Student callers make calls during weekday evenings and Sundays to try to reach Loyolans at the time most convenient for them.
Phonathon gifts are allocated based on the donors’ wishes, though most of the funds are used to expand scholarships, strengthen academic offerings, attract a diverse student body, add on and improve facilities, and build study-abroad programs.
Martin echoes Samayoa’s belief in the power of alumni support to transform lives. “If not for financial aid and scholarships at Loyola, I know that I would not be where I am today,” Martin says. “Personally, I support Loyola to ensure that current and future students have the same, if not better, opportunities than those I have already benefited from.”
Students like Samayoa are the best contacts for alumni to get a real picture of today’s Loyola, Martin says. Phonathon callers describe what’s happening on campus and tell alumni how new programs and campus improvements are positively affecting current students.
“Alumni support is essential for Loyola University Chicago to be successful,” Martin says. “Supporting Loyola is a way for alumni to show confidence that their alma mater will continue to prepare people to lead extraordinary lives.”
To make your annual gift, please visit LUC.edu/alumni/giving.