ATLANTA (June 16, 2009) --The Agnes Scott College Student Calling Program has achieved unprecedented success in generating gifts and pledges for the college’s annual fund for 2008-2009, exceeding their goal of $338,000 by $84,000.
“It has been exciting to see the Student Calling Program grow under the direction of several of our young alumnae—Emily Henderson Konouchi ’03, Kirby Hager Johnson ’06 and now Kelly Williams ’03 have made outstanding contributions to this program,” said Joanne Davis, director of the annual fund. Each was a caller as a student, and this provided them with a unique perspective on managing the program and improving on the solid foundation former managers left in place."
Davis noted that about ten years ago, the goal for the program was to raise $120,000. During the 2008-2009 fiscal year student callers raised more than $420,000 in gifts and pledges for the annual fund.
The assistant director of the annual fund Kelly Williams ’03, once a student caller herself, leads the program. Williams recruits and trains students to dial up alumnae and parents, fill them in on college news and ask for their financial support of the annual fund.
“I look for students who are passionate about the school, involved in different activities and overall have a positive and upbeat demeanor,” Williams said. “These young women are the voice of Agnes Scott, so it is very important to select students who represent the school and what the Agnes Scott mission states.”
“The students are not just calling for the support of the college, but also to update the alumnae,” Williams said. “For some alumnae, this is the only personal contact they receive in a year. One alumna asked if she could write her caller and said it was like ‘getting a call from home.’”
One student, Alexandra Brewer ’10, said that she got involved with the Student Calling Program because she wanted to hear about the experiences of alumnae. “The Agnes Scott callers are allowed the freedom to carry on a conversation and not just ask for money,” she said. “We not only want them to give back to the college but we want them to feel like they are still a part of the college no matter how far away they may live or how long it has been since they graduated. I have loved learning that the spirit of Agnes Scott has not changed over the years—the women have always been outgoing and outspoken and want to bring about change.”
The student callers not only raise money for their school and make meaningful connections with alumnae, they learn about the importance of philanthropy. “All the callers that were seniors made a gift to the Senior Gift Campaign and many of the other girls made a gift to the Annual Fund during the Black Cat Gift Campaign,” said Williams.
"I feel all of the callers went into this year with great confidence and a willingness to try even though we all knew it would be tough,” Brewer said. “I think the positive attitude rubbed off on the alumnae. We had several alumnae who had never given before decide to give this year after talking to their student callers. It really shows the difference a phone call makes.”