Seniors just months away from marching out of Franklin Field with diplomas in hand are starting to think about giving back to the place where they have spent the last four years learning and living.
At the Senior Gift Drive's first barbecue rally last night, University President Amy Gutmann challenged the class to have a contribution rate of at least 60 percent.
"Do you think you can do it?" asked Gutmann, who was met with hearty applause from the Class of 2005, excited and ready to have the historic prestige of breaking the previous year's participation record of 55 percent.
Roughly a third of the class gathered in front of the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts last night to eat fried Oreos, pretzels and hamburgers, and to donate a minimum of $5 to the annual fundraising drive.
The gift drive's goal is to raise $55,000 from 60 percent of the class. In 2001, participation was at 18 percent, quite low, considering last year's record of 55 percent. The participation rates in 2002 and 2003 hovered at just above 40 percent.
This year, all donations are going toward the Penn Fund, the University's unrestricted undergraduate fundraising body.
"Each of you is helped by the Penn Fund," Gift Drive Chairwoman and College senior Liz Schoen said, speaking to her fellow classmates. "If you are not ready to donate tonight, you have the rest of the year to do so."
Class Gift Chairman and College senior Eric Boschetti explained that "51 percent of [the money] goes to financial aid. The rest is distributed to the Kelly Writers House, Student Activities Council funding [and] technological equipment for the schools."
Completing the trio of gift drive leaders is Class of '05 President Matt Klapper.
Klapper's access to the class listserv and the influence he has on his peers has made the project's visibility and advertising easier, according to Associate Director of the Penn Fund Elise Betz.
This year's drive has the ability to be one of the most successful, which was evident in the amount of effort put into the barbecue.
Class of '04 College graduate Patrick Willis, a member of the band Jive Turkey, who entertained at the party, urged everyone to "get out your checkbooks."
"I will definitely make a donation," College senior Katherine Onishi said. "The barbecue is a good way to spread the message. The food is good."
While sampling the fried Oreos, Engineering senior Charles Forster also admired the idea of the barbecue.
"It is a really good idea," Forster said. "Giving back to the school is important."
Historically, Penn has trailed behind peer institutions in its fundraising ability. Klapper acknowledges that Penn's endowment is behind those of Harvard and Yale universities. However, the Senior Class Gift Drive's "goal is to help rectify the situation," Klapper said.
Betz pointed out that many people "do not realize the full importance of giving back ... but the reason the school is so great now is because of the previous classes and their donations."
Betz also stressed that the more important goal of the gift drive is participation, rather than the amount raised.
