Posting Date: April 20, 2009
10 for 10 campaign builds excitement
By Cheryl Anderson Brown
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The fresh faces of these first-year art students have helped emphasize the real importance of the campaign: providing scholarships and programs for students. Photo by Natasha Lovelace-Habers |
The excitement is still building as the 10 for 10 Campaign heads into its final week. The six-month project for the KSU College of the Arts set out to raise $10,000 by asking everyone associated with the college — , staff, alumni, students and parents — to contribute just $10 each. When the $10,000 goal was reached after just two months, a new goal was set: get 300 contributors.
"Sometimes people hesitate to give because they are unable to give very much," said Stacie Barrow, director of development. "This project proves that those smaller gifts can really add up."
As of April 20, the total raised is nearly $28,000 and 284 people have contributed. Barrow emphasizes that these numbers are particularly impressive because this is the first time the college has really reached out to its students and their parents in this way.
The college has provided information on the 10 for 10 campaign at concerts and events, and many parents have been responding with generous gifts, some of which have qualified for matching gifts from their corporate employers.
The students also have had an enthusiastic response. In the last two weeks, the college has sponsored onsite outreach events in each department. Student volunteers have led this effort with impressive results: more than 100 students contributed in just four days.
“Students should be very proud of what they are doing and the impact it will have,” Barrow said. Among those impacts is impressing potential supporters who have much deeper pockets. “Individuals, corporations and foundations who make large contributions have a lot of choices. They could give to many universities or arts organizations. When they see that the KSU College of the Arts not only has excellent and academic programs, but that the students, alumni and are dedicated enough to make their own financial contributions, I think it will have a real influence on where they decide to invest their money.”
That's especially true because of the current state of the economy, Barrow believes. At a time when the state budget has been reduced and the and staff are worrying about possible furloughs, they have also supported the campaign. "As of last month, 100 percent of the secretaries in the college had given. They don't make a lot of money but they really believe in supporting the students."
Many alumni also have responded positively to the fact that they don't have to make a large gift to know that their money is making a difference. And, they can direct their money to any of the arts programs or scholarships.
There are several ways to give to the 10 for 10 campaign. Donations can be made online at the 10 for 10 website at http://www.kennesaw.edu/arts/10for10campaign or at the Office of Development website. Also, each department has 10 for 10 boxes where gifts may be left. For more information, call 770-499-3214 or e-mail arts@kennesaw.edu.